Winnipeg Blue Bombers Game Day

14 GREY CUP PLAYBOOK SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS BLUE BOMBER HALL OF FAME MOMENTS OF GLORY — THEY COME IN A FLASH AND THEY CAN BE GONE JUST AS QUICKLY. CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS PASS INTO HISTORY AS OTHERS TAKE THEIR TURN HOISTING EARL GREY'S MUG. t's been 25 years since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won a Grey Cup championship, but individual player achievements are recorded in league archives, and many have earned a permanent place in football history. In 1984, 54 years after the founding of the Winnipeg Football Club, members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers board of directors felt it was time to honour the achievements and tradition of the club by founding their own Hall of Fame. "So in 1984 they did a catch-up, if you will, and nine builders were inducted, and 19 players," says former team president and current Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame chairman Reg Low. "And in 1985, again, there were five builders and 10 players. So over those first two years of the Bomber Hall of Fame they sort of went back in time, and people like Lou Adelman, Dr. Tom Casey, Herbie Gray, Leo Lewis, and Russ Rebholtz … Fritz Hanson — we're going back to almost Day 1 of the Bombers. They did what they thought was appropriate at that time, and that has continued on through to and including this year." During the Grey Cup Festival, the board chose to induct one player and one builder: Former offensive lineman Dave Mudge — the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2001 — and player personnel man Paul Jones, who has enjoyed four Grey Cup wins. Low, a Hall of Famer himself, has headed the group responsible for Hall of Fame selections for the past two decades. He and former Bombers general manager Paul Robson are on the current committee, along with Jan Brown, Bob Irving, Ted Bartman, Gene Dunn, Ken Houssin, Bob Miles, Don Bryk, and Joe Pascucci. The criteria the board uses to make selections is straightforward. "A builder shall be defined as one whose service, other than as an active player, was responsible for the exceptional contribution to the Winnipeg Football Club," recites Low from the committee's manifesto. "A player shall be defined as one who provides distinguished service as a player." The process of making the selection is straightforward, as well. "Everybody has the opportunity on the committee to bring forward names. We scan all this information that we have and we talk about them. We see what everybody thinks and we come to a consensus," Low says. "We look at their character. What do they do in the off season? How do they participate in the community? Are they good people?" While players normally need to be retired for a minimum of three years before consideration for induction, the selection committee makes exceptions in special cases. "The odd time a player retires and was of such exception that, if you will, we look and say 'Hey, he deserves to go in right away.' " Star receiver Milt Stegall is a recent example. The CFL's all-time touchdown leader retired following the 2008 season and was inducted in 2009. Kicker Troy Westwood, the club's all-time leading scorer, spent his 17-year pro career with the Bombers and was inducted in 2011 after a brief return to the team in 2009. "The coolest thing I found about the Hall of Fame experience is that it gives you a platform to thank everybody that put you in a position to play at a high level. And that was the best thing in the world," Westwood says. The Hall of Fame selections are celebrated annually by Blue Bomber alumni and current staff and players. "We bring the team out, the guys on the current roster. Each year the (current players) are introduced. In a selfish respect, from our point of view, they're there to see what the Hall of Fame is all about. Are they going to work hard enough to hopefully get someone's attention that they might be considered for the Bomber Hall of Fame? And I think that's an important part," Low says. "We have this passion, one could say, for this football club and what it does and what it means to our community." Blue Bombers president and CEO Wade Miller, a Hall of Famer who is now in his third year in charge of the club, wanted to make the Hall of Fame more visible and available for fans to enjoy at Investors Group Field. "We announced our intention for a Hall of Fame walk last year when we unveiled our Bud Grant statue outside of Investors Group Field," he says "The walk will be the second step in our efforts to honour the rich history and tradition of the Winnipeg Football Club. We are excited for our fans to have the opportunity to reflect upon the great men who have built this team for decades, every time they come to our stadium." [ ETERNAL FAME Hall and walk honour Blue Bomber greats By Darrin Bauming for the Winnipeg Free Press Right: A statue of Bud Grant stands outside Investors Group Field. A former player, Grant coached the team to four Grey Cup victories during his tenure from 1957 - 1966. He was among the first inductees into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 1984. Photo by Darcy Finley Left to right from top: inductees include — Ken Ploen, Milt Stegall, Willard Reaves, Ron LaTourelle, Chris Walby, Mike Riley, Matt Dunigan, Dieter Brock, Troy Westwood, Trevor Kennerd, Rod Hill (holding Grey Cup). Photos courtesy of Winnipeg Free Press archives.

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