NORM FIELDGATE

End and linebacker: 1954 to 1967

Norm Fieldgate was the longest serving original BC Lions player suiting up for the team’s first 14 seasons in the league. He missed only one game in his illustrious career and was named to the Western All-Star team on three occasions. A truly versatile player, Norm played offensive and defensive end, linebacker and even safety over his career intercepting 37 passes (second only to Larry Crawford) and led the team in that category four times.

He was a member of the first team to go to the Grey Cup in 1963 and led the team to the first-ever win in 1964 in Toronto (even taking all of the kickoffs in that game). A specialist at blocking kicks, he got a piece of 6 in his career and recovered a pair of them for touchdowns. Norm was the acknowledged leader of the B.C. defense throughout his career and the number of times he made crucial tackles for the team cannot be counted. After retiring, Norm was the last President of the community-owned team in 1989 and has been in and around the club for the last 52 years. He is a fixture at all the home games and remains active with the Lions in a variety of ways. Norm was elected to the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1970 (the first Lion to be so honoured) and to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Jim Young

Wide receiver and slotback: 1967 to 1979

When the Lions acquired the rights to Jim Young from Toronto and Minnesota of the NFL, he started a career that would see him play 13 seasons and nearly 200 games at four positions. Known as “Dirty 30”, Jim brought a swagger and aggressiveness to the team that had been lacking since the early 1960s and the two Grey Cup appearances.

He led the team in receiving in his first nine seasons with the team as a halfback, slotback, wide receiver and tight end. Jim set the Lions’ all-time receiving record as a rookie and surpassed that total two more times before retiring in 1967. His mark of 1,362 yards in 1972 stood up the club record until 1981 and he still holds the club marks overall at 9,248 yards and 65 TDs. He is one of only two Lions to surpass the 10,000 yard mark overall and he dominated the Lions offense for many years despite playing with 23 different quarterbacks. He saw action in five playoff seasons for B.C. and still ranks as the fifth all-time leading scorer in club history at 410 points. Only two Lions have more than Jim’s total of 68 career TDs. Jim was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

Lui Passaglia

Punter and kicker: 1976 to 2000

Lui joined the Lions in 1976 as the fifth pick in the 1976 CFL Draft. He made an immediate impact as the Lions had been looking for a reliable kicker and punter for many years. Before joining the team, he was a terrific collegiate athlete at SFU, playing quarterback and receiver in addition to his kicking duties. Over the course of the next 25 pro seasons, he led the Lions in scoring 24 times and the West on 4 occasions.

Lui was first professional player to record a 200-point season and set the CFL record with 52 FGs and (since eclipsed). Lui was chosen to the West All-Star team nine times and was honoured as All-Canadian on four more occasions. As the all-time leading scorer in professional football, Lui dominates the Lions record book as well as that of the CFL. He holds league records of 3,991 points, 875 field goals, 1,045 converts and 309 singles and ranks as the second leading punter of all-time. He made a team-record 5 Grey Cup appearances and kicked the winning FG from 38 yards out on the final play of the 1994 contest at home in Vancouver. Lui kicked 7 FGs in one game twice, recorded 210 career playoff points and another 55 in Grey Cup action. Lui was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Glen Steele

Glenn Steele, while at Vancouver's Notre Dame High School, was one of the finest high school football players ever to play in British Columbia. It was very much a recruiting coup on the part of Thunderbird head coach Frank Smith that brought about the small (5'8") but speedy running-back's enrollment at UBC and his lining up as a starter with the 1981 Thunderbirds football team.

UBC recorded a successful seven win, one loss season in 1981, with Steele emerging as the top ball carrier in the country, gaining a record 951 yards. He was also selected to the 1981 All-Canadian team, nominated for the Hec Crighton Award as the outstanding player in the country and was the winner of the Peter Gorman Trophy as Canada's outstanding rookie university football player.

Steele's 1982 season could be considered one of the greatest ever experienced by a UBC athlete. He led the nation in rushing and was an easy choice as a selection to the 1982 All-Canadian football team. He was the MVP in his league, the National semi-final Atlantic Bowl and in the Vanier Cup game. He was an integral part of both the Vanier Cup and Shrum Bowl championships, set six UBC football records and was honoured as the province's Outstanding University Athlete by Sport BC.

Looking forward to the CFL draft and a career in pro football, Steele culminated his four-year UBC athletic career by sharing with hockey player Bill Holowaty the prestigious Bobby Gaul Award - UBC's top award for male athletes. He wrapped up his college career as a three-time All-Canadian and league rushing champion for three consecutive seasons.

Steele still holds numerous UBC football records. His three career records; most yards rushing, touchdowns rushing and total touchdowns - appear secure. His season touchdown record remains unbroken. The three individual game records he owns or shares ties him with Mark Nohra for the most game records of any UBC running back.

Following his graduation from UBC in 1985 with a B.P.E., Steele was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for whom he played that season.

Bob Ackles

If there can be a single individual most representative of the BC Lions Football Club across its history of nearly six decades, it is the late Bob Ackles. A member of the original 1954 club as water boy and equipment assistant, Bob grew up with organization rising rapidly up the ranks. He became the Lions’ junior football coordinator and eventually was promoted to General Manager in 1975.

Along with Head Coach Don Matthews who Bob hired in 1983, they led the club to their second Grey Cup title in 1985. For his leadership and commitment not just to the Lions but to Canadian football, he received a special Schenley Award in 1986 before heading to the NFL. Mr. Ackles returned to the Lions in 2002, a year that coincided with his election to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He led the team to the 2006 Grey Cup as President. Bob passed away in 2008 and is recognized as part of the club’s Wall of Fame among many other team and community awards.

Lorne Cullen

Coached 21 years

10 undefeated seasons

Won the Senior High School Football at King Edward High School.

The Vancouver Blue Bombers won 8 seasons out of 13 and had 8 players that went on to play later in the CFL as well as 8 that went on to coach.

Coached 2 seasons with the BC Lions Cubs with 1 season being undefeated.

Lorne Davies

For three decades from 1965 to 1995, Lorne Davies’ name was synonymous with the Simon Fraser University Athletics program. As SFU’s Athletics Director, Davies helped build the program from the ground up and turned it into one of the premier athletic programs in the entire country.

Football, however, was always Davies’ first love. Davies had a standout playing career highlighted by being a key part of the 1947 Vancouver Blue Bombers - the first-ever BC team to win a Canadian national junior championship – and through earning an athletic scholarship to Western Washington University but he made his biggest mark in football as a coach. His 25 years spent on football sidelines included stints with the Vancouver Blue Bombers, Western Washington University, University of Oregon, UBC and the BC Lions.

Davies has piled up a long list of awards and achievements over the years including being inducted into the SFU Sports Hall of Fame (1986), Western Washington University Sports Hall of Fame (1995), Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame (2009), and BC Sports Hall of Fame (2010). He was also awarded the Premier of British Columbia Award in 1994 and the Order of BC in 2000. He was the 2005 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award (now the Bob Ackles Lifetime Achievement Award) presented by the BC Lions at the annual Orange Helmet Awards Banquet.

Presently, Davies serves as the Executive Director of the Terry Fox Humanitarian Awards Program. At Simon Fraser University, his legacy continues to live on as the school’s top male and female athlete each year, respectively, are bestowed with honour of being named the Lorne Davies Athlete of the Year.

Larry Reda

Larry Reda brings over 60 years of amateur football experience as a player, coach and an administrator. He has coached at every level of amateur football including Community, Minor, Juvenile, High School and BC Junior Football. As an administrator, he previously held the positions of Director and President, of the BC Junior Football League. He is a Lifetime Member of the Canadian Junior Football League, served as President of the BC Amateur Football Association (Football BC), and was the Executive Director for the BC High School Football Association for 22 years. Presently, he is the Chairman of the BC High School Championships Subway Bowl.

Reda is most well-known for being the man behind the Western Canadian All-Star Football Camp which runs annually at Simon Fraser University. He is also the General Manager for the BC Firefighters Flag Team that competes around the world at the World Police & Fire Games.

Reda was the 2004 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award (now the Bob Ackles Lifetime Achievement Award) presented by the BC Lions at their annual Orange Helmet Awards Banquet and is a trustee of the newly-formed BC Football Hall of Fame. Over the past two years, Reda has also served as general manager of the BC provincial under-18 team guiding them to consecutive bronze medal victories at the annual Football Canada Cup tournament.

Annis Stukus

When the idea of the BC Lions was first developed in the early 1950s, the newly-formed club was in need of promotion, season ticket holders, club members, coaches, staff and playe rs. The man that was most important in all of these endeavours was the club’s first Head Coach and GM – Annis Stukus. ‘Stuke’ brought his vast experience playing in the East with Toronto and in the West with Edmonton out to the West Coast and he was instantly centre stage.

He led the club onto the field for their first season coached the Lions through their first two years in the old WIFU. As much a promoter as he was Head Coach, Annis Stukus was a key builder of the original BC Lions Football Club. He was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1974.

Jim Taylor

One of Canada’s most popular and prolific writers, Jim Taylor enjoyed an impressive career as columnist and beat reporter in British Columbia. He began his long writing career in Victoria in 1954 and later wrote for The Vancouver Sun, The Province and The Calgary Sun. He eventually became a nationally syndicated sports columnist, author, and broadcaster.

Jim always a held a special interest in the BC Lions and among the many books he penned was Dirty Thirty the biography of Leos receiver Jim Young. He was a member of the Football Reporters of Canada who honoured him in 1989 as well as a member of the Schenley Award selection committee. In 2010, he received the Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award for BC journalism.

Al Davidson

One of Vancouver’s most colourful and beloved sportscasters for more than three decades, Davidson had the unique ability to entertain fans of every sport. Whether it was his daily sports updates or hard-hitting editorials on professional sports in Vancouver, Davidson enjoyed his role as one of the city’s best voices as well as one of its more controversial commentators all in the name of entertaining listeners.

Beginning his career in Port Arthur, Ontario, Davidson eventually made stops in Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto before coming home to CKNW where he anchored the sports department from 1958 to 1987. His daily “Spotlight on Sport” often featured perspectives on the BC Lions and he was key figure on Lions radio broadcasts. He was a well-respected member of the Football Reporters of Canada as well as the member of the Schenley Award selection committee recognizing the CFL’s outstanding players until 1988.

1964 BC Lions

The 1964 edition of the BC Lions was the first team to capture the Grey Cup for the club on their second visit to the national championship game.

This truly exceptional team can trace its roots to several key acquisitions, beginning in 1959 with the signing of Hall of Famer Willie Fleming. He played a central role in the Lions’ offence for eight seasons and alongside Joe Kapp, who came to the team in 1961 in a trade with Calgary, were dominating forces in the West.

The 1964 BC team featured seven Canadian Football of Fame inductees including original Lions Norm Fieldgate and Byron Bailey who starred in what became known as the Headhunters defence. Finishing first for the second straight year, they defeated Calgary in the West Final and Hamilton by 34-24 in the Grey Cup in Toronto. Other stars on this team included Dick Fouts, Tom Hinton, Tom Brown and the late Sonny Homer.

#10 Mel Melin, #11 Pete Ohler, #15 Willie Fleming, #18 Ron Morris, #20 Bill Munsey, #21 Sonny Homer, #22 Joe Kapp, #24 Lou Holland, #26 Steve Shafer, #27 Neal Beaumont, #30 Peter Kempf, #34 Bill Lasseter, #35 Bob Swift, #38 By Bailey, #41 Gary Schwertfeger, #42 Greg Findlay, #44 Walt Bilicki, #45 Jesse Williams, #54 Tom Hinton, #58 Steve Cotter, #60 Gus Kasapis, #61 Lonnie Dennis, #64 Mike Martin, #66 Emery Barnes, #67 Mike Cacic, #68 Ken Sugarman, #69 Tom Brown, #70 Dick Fouts, #71 Paul Seale, #72 Jim Carphin, #75 Norm Fieldgate, #76 Mack Burton, #78 Pat Claridge

1947 Vancouver Blue Bombers

The 1964 edition of the BC Lions was the first team to capture the Grey Cup for the club on their second visit to the national championship game.

This truly exceptional team can trace its roots to several key acquisitions, beginning in 1959 with the signing of Hall of Famer Willie Fleming. He played a central role in the Lions’ offence for eight seasons and alongside Joe Kapp, who came to the team in 1961 in a trade with Calgary, were dominating forces in the West.

The 1964 BC team featured seven Canadian Football of Fame inductees including original Lions Norm Fieldgate and Byron Bailey who starred in what became known as the Headhunters defence. Finishing first for the second straight year, they defeated Calgary in the West Final and Hamilton by 34-24 in the Grey Cup in Toronto. Other stars on this team included Dick Fouts, Tom Hinton, Tom Brown and the late Sonny Homer.

#71 Doug Pardington, #69 Chud Read, #55 Gil Steers, #73 Ed Berry, #65 Ernie Choukulds, #63 Jim Mitchner, #61 Bob Sikorski, #67 Ron Gunn, #72 Moriss Carey, #52 John Hudak, #59 Lorne Davies, #58 Don McKay, #51 Tex Thorpe, #70 Bill Wallace, #50 Jerry Nestman, #60 Ced Gyles, #56 Walt Chahley, #64 Lorne Cullen, #53 Rod Pantages, #66 John Weston, #68 Barry Robertshaw, #54 Sam Casey, #62 Jack Patrick, #57 Wendall Green.

David Braley

Taking over the BC Lions franchise in January 1997, David Braley has spearheaded the club’s tremendous success during his 15 years of ownership. A former owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, David has also served as the chair of the CFL’s Board of Governors and the CFL's interim commissioner from March 2002 to November 2002. A leader among his peers on the Board of Governors, David’s efforts in recent years including taking ownership of the Toronto Argonauts have stabilized the CFL and contributed to unprecedented popularity.

In 2009, David received the Consumer's Choice Award as Vancouver Business Man of the Year and his expertise and leadership have also been a driving force behind Hamilton and Toronto's successful bid to co-host the Pan Am Games in 2015. In May 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed David to the Senate noting his involvement in sport and philanthropy and his commitment to both his community and his country.

Victor Spencer

Victor Spencer played a key role in the birth of the BC Lions Football Club, spearheading a group that first applied to the WIFU in 1951 for entrance into the league. He attended the 1951 and 1952 league meeting to sell the prairie teams on the idea of a west coast franchise and through his efforts the club was finally admitted. He spent nine years as part of the club’s executive and helped to attract the first Grey Cup held in Vancouver in 1955. He was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2006.