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.
