CANADIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame
Andrew "Red" Currie began his football career as a player from 1925 - 1933. He played with St. John's College, University of Manitoba, Regina Pats, Regina Roughriders and the Winnipeg "Pegs".
Currie's career at the executive level included coaching, officiating, and various other organizational functions. In 1949 he organized the Manitoba Football Officials' Association, and in 1954 assisted with the start-up of the association in BC.
In 1965 Currie chaired the sub-committee which was responsible for the revision and re-writing of the Canadian Football League's Rule Book. This Rule Book was adopted in 1967.
Andrew Currie is a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame
Arthur Stevenson came to Canada after a brilliant playing career at Hastings College in Nebraska. In 1937 a reporter described him as "one of the finest all-around backfielders in College Football".
Stevenson was an accomplished runner, passer, and kicker he was the West's Leading Scorer in 1941. Winnipeg went to the GreyCcup Championship four of the five seasons Stevenson was on the team. He scored in the 1938 game and the following year kicked the winning point to lead his squad to victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders. The 1939 game was impressive since the squad was playing under unfamiliar rules and in an Ottawa snowstorm as well.
Arthur Stevenson is a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame
Arthur U. Chipman served as chairman of various committees and also as vice-president of the Winnipeg Organization, before becoming the club president in 1945.
The administration operated in an open, business-like manner and Chipman was credited with keeping the game of football alive in the West during the war years. When Chipman retired as president he left the club's financial affairs in excellent condition.
Chipman left a legacy of security and development within the Western Interprovincial Football Union and the Canadian Rugby Union.
Arthur U. Chipman is also a member of the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame.
Ben Simpson was a star halfback and kicker with the Tigers for several years while he completed his education, then held a teaching position at Central Collegiate in Hamilton. He was the Tigers' captain in 1910 and played in the Grey Cup game that year.
Ben Simpson excelled as a player, an executive with various football organizations, and an educator. He is a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
Ben Zambiasi was born in Valdosta, Georgia on August 19, 1956. Zambiasi played college football with the University of Georgia, where he was selected as a South Eastern Conference (SEC) All-Star in 1976. In 1978, he was the tenth round choice of the Chicago Bears of the NAtional Football League (NFL) in the American College draft. Midway through the 1978 season, he decided to join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a Linebacker.
Zambiasi's first season with Hamilton was exceptional. He was named the Most Outstanding Rookie in the Eastern Division in 1978, and received All-Eastern and All-Canadian honours throughout his playing career. In 1979, he won the Schenley Award for the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the CFL.
In 1988, Zambiasi joined the Toronto Argonauts and played his final season of a 11-year career. Zambiasi has been named to the Tiger-Cats Walk of Fame, the Tiger-Cats Wall of Honour and is a member of the University of Georgia's team of the century.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame
Cal Murphy was born in Winnipeg and moved to Vancouver as a youngster. Murphy began his career at Vancouver College and continued playing football with CYO Juniors and the University of British Columbia (UBC), followed by a stint with the BC Lions. Murphy began his coaching career at Notre Dame high school in 1956. He then moved to Vancouver College in 1960 where his squad had the school's only undefeated football season against top american high schools in the pacific northwest.
After spending several years coaching at American universities, Murphy joined the CFL coaching ranks in 1974 as an assistant coach to Eagle Keys with the BC Lions. He became head coach of the team in 1975.
He spent 1977 in Montreal with the Alouettes under Marv Levy and picked up his first Grey Cup win that season. In 1978, he moved to the Edmonton Eskimos with Hugh Campbell and was part of the Edmonton dynasty that won five consecutive Grey Cups.
In 1983, Murphy went to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He spent 14 years as head coach and general manager. He was instrumental in bringing the Grey Cup game to Winnipeg in 1991. During his time in Winnipeg, the Blue Bombers appeared in five Grey Cup games and won three.
Cal murphy is a member of the Vancouver College Hall of Fame and the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame.
Cox was a stalwart member of Montreal's defence corps throughout his 13-year career. In 228 games, he finished with 979 tackles (fourth all-time), 23 interceptions and eight defensive touchdowns. He holds the CFL record for fumble return yards with 392.
D. Wes Brown joined the Ottawa organization in 1925 as the ticket manager. This began an almost 40-year dedication to football.
While serving in various capacities in Ottawa, Brown was also affiliated with the Interprovincial Football Rugby Union (IPRFU). In 1948 he was appointed the permanent secretary of what would later become the Eastern Division of the Canadian Football League.
D. Wes Brown was one of the few individuals to be honoured with a plaque at a grey cup dinner. Throughout his long career he worked diligently for the Ottawa Football Club.
D. Wes Brown is a member of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Damon Allen was born July 29, 1963 in San Diego, California.
Prior to joining the Canadian Football League, Allen had an outstanding college career at Cal State Fullerton where he set seven single season records and was named 1st team Pacific Coast Athletic Association All-Star in 1984, as well as leading the two PCAA Championships. Allen joined the CFL when he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos as a free agent in 1985. He saw limited action his first couple seasons backing up veteran quarterback, Matt Dunigan. He replaced an injured Dunigan during the 1987 Grey Cup game leading the team to victory and earning Most Valuable Offensive Player honours.
Allen signed as a free agent with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1989. In 1991, he was named a Division All-Star for the first time during his career. That season he rushed for a career high of 1,036 yards and 8 TDS, and passed for a career high of 4,275 yards with 25 TD passes. He became the second quarterback in CFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. After a brief stint with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1992, Allen returned to the Edmonton Eskimos in 1993. That season he lead the Eskimos to another Grey Cup victory with a 33 - 23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was named Most Valuable Player in the Grey Cup Game for the second time during his career. He also won the Eddie James Memorial Trophy that year, as the leading rusher in the Western Division. In 1996, Allen joined the BC Lions after one season with American expansion team the Memphis Mad Dogs.
In 1999 while still with the Lions, Allen was voted to the Western All-Star team. That season he threw 315 passes on 521 attempts for 4,219 yards and 22 TDs. He also ran the ball 136 times for 785 yards and 8 TDs, as well as throwing more than 300 yards on five occasions and was twice named CFL player of the week. In 2000, Allen became the CFL's all-time leading passer, surpassing Ron Lancaster's record of 50, 535 yards. He was the Lions' nominee for the Most Outstanding Player, as well as leading to the team to Grey Cup victory that year. During the 2001 season, Allen moved into 1st place among active quarterbacks on the All-Passing list with 54,420 yards. He also became the first CFL quarterback to rush for over 10,000 yards in his career. In 2003 Allen was acquired from the BC Lions by the Toronto Argonauts. During this season he became the third quarterback in professional football history to pass for 60,000 yards and broke the record for Most Career Touchdown Passes with 334.
In 2004, during a game against Calgary, Allen became the second player in Toronto Argonaut history to complete more than 12 passes consecutively in a game. That season he was again named Most Valuable Player in the Grey Cup Game, when he complete 23 of 24 passes for 299 yards including 1 TD pass and rushed 5 times for 10 yards and 2 TDs. In 2005, Allen would be named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player for the first time during his career, as well as being named a CFL All-Star, Eastern All-Star, and winner of the CFL Fan Choice Award.
At the time of his retirement in 2008, Damon Allen was Pro-Football's All-Time Passing Leader with 72,381 yards, as well as holding the CFL record for All-Time Rushing Yards by a Quarterback with 11, 914 yards. He also held the CFL record for Most Pass Attempts - 9,138, Most Pass Completions - 5,158, and Most Touchdown Passes - 394. He was ranked third All-Time for CFL service having played in 370 regular season games over 23 seasons. Damon Allen was number 14 on TSN's Top 50 CFL Players list.
Dan Ralph was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum, Football Reporters of Canada win in 2012.
Dan Yochum began his outstanding career as an amateur football player at the University of Syracuse, where he recieved a honourable mention on the UPI (United Press International) and AP (Associated Press) All-American teams in 1972.
Yochum was a second round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1971, but opted to play with the Montreal Alouettes instead. Yochum joined Montreal in 1972 as an Offensive Tackle and played nine season with the Alouettes.
He was All-Eastern seven times and a four time All-Canadian. In 1976, Yochum was the winner of the Schenley Award for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He finished his CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos but unfortunately an injury kept him from participating in the 1980 Grey Cup. In 2000, Yochum was named to the PA New Jersey All Millennium Top 100, as well as being named a Pennsylvania sports legend.
Dave McCann played halfback and quarterback for the Rough Riders in the pre-World War I years. McCann coached the Ottawa Entry in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union to Grey Cup victories in 1925 and 1926.
In 1927 McCann began a lengthy affiliation with the Canadian Rugby Union. He was president for one year, and at that time took on the responsibilities of the Rules Committee. His input as a former player, referee and coach was invaluable as the game of football evolved into the modern era.
Dave McCann is a member of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the CFL 's Board of Governors
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum / Associate Vice President, Canadian Football League