Anselmo, Johnson, Mills, Phillips And Weir To Be Inducted
April 7, 2009 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
Four players and one builder were named today to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame class of 2009. They will be officially inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame during induction weekend 2009 to be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba from September 24th-26h,2009.
The five inductees are:
TONY ANSELMO, BUILDER: Tony Anselmo has been actively involved with the Calgary Stampeders Football Club since 1973 and part of the McMahon Stadium Society since 1974. Under his direction McMahon Stadium was converted from a pro sports facility to a multi-purpose amateur/professional facility. His time and dedication helped successfully fundraise more than $32,000,000.00 worth of improvements to McMahon Stadium. In 1991, Anselmo was a major partner in the successful transition of the Calgary Stampeder Football Club from a community-based team to private ownership. Tony Anselmo is a founder and a director of the Calgary Stampeder Football Club Wall of Fame Committee. He is also an active member of the Calgary Stampeder Alumni Association. He is a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and has been named to the Calgary Stampeder Football Club Wall of Fame as a builder.
ALONDRA JOHNSON, PLAYER: Alondra Johnson's CFL career began in 1989 when he signed as a free agent with the BC Lions. That year he was the Lions' nominee for Top Defensive Player. In 1991 he signed with the Calgary Stampeders as a free agent. He was a Western Division All-star in 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, and 2000. He was a Northern Division All-star in 1995. He was All-Canadian in 1995, 1998, 2000. He has won three Grey Cup rings in 1995, 1998, 2000. He was voted defensive player of the game in the 1998 Grey Cup game after achieving seven defensive tackles, a record at that time. In 2002, he surpassed the career mark of 1,000 defensive tackles. He was second in defensive tackles with 1,084 when he retired, and currently sits third all-time.
JIM MILLS, PLAYER: James Mills was signed as free agent with the BC Lions in August 1986. He was a Western All-Star at the offensive tackle position in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993. He was All-Canadian in 1988, 1990, 1991. He also voted the league's Most Outstanding Lineman two years in a row 1990, 1991. Mills was signed to Ottawa as a free agent in 1994. After one year with the Rough Riders, he returned to Vancouver to finish career with the BC Lions in 1995.
RUDOLPH (RUDY) PHILLIPS, PLAYER: Phillips was signed by the Ottawa Rough Riders for the final six games of the season in 1981. In 1982, 1983, and 1984 he was the Rough Rider's nominees for Outstanding Offensive Lineman. He was the winner of the Outstanding Lineman Award two years in a row, 1982 and 1983. In 1985, Phillips left the Ottawa Rough Riders and pursued a career in the NFL. Phillips returned to the CFL in 1986, this time with the Edmonton Eskimos. Rudy Phillips was an Eastern All-Star Offensive Guard twice in 1982, 1983 and Western All-Star Offensive Guard once in 1986. He was All-Canadian three times in his career in 1982, 1983, and 1986.
GLEN WEIR, PLAYER: Glen Weir started his professional career in 1972 with the Montreal Alouettes via a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In 1975, he had a break out season. That same year he was selected as an Eastern and All - Canadian All - Star, as well as being the Alouettes' nomination for the Schenley Awards Outstanding Defensive Player. Weir was an Eastern All-Star Defensive Tackle a total of six times in his career and All-Canadian three times. In 1977, he was voted Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the Grey Cup game, as well as winning the James P. McCaffrey Trophy awarded to the Outstanding Defensive Player in the East Division. Glen Weir rarely missed a game in his 13 season career earning him the reputation of being one of the most durable players in Montreal's history.
"This is a very deserving class, these gentlemen played at a high level very rarely in the spotlight but are very deserving of this honour especially being voted in by their peers," said Mark DeNobile, the Hall of Fame's Executive-Director.
"These men personify what's great about Canadian football, from electrifying plays on the field while working to make our game and our communities stronger off the field."
"On behalf of the entire Canadian Football League, and our fans from coast to coast, I want to congratulate Tony, Alondra, Jim, Rudy and Glen on this tremendous privilege," said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon.
"This year we honour one builder, and four linemen, two from each side of the line of scrimmage. It is wonderful to see these players share the spotlight because, while they all had high-profile and award winning careers, it is fair to say that those who play our great game in the trenches generally deserve more attention than they receive. I'm sure this class feels it represents every lineman who ever sacrificed so another could score the touchdown, or make the tackle," Cohon said.
"Speaking of selfless service, Tony Anselmo typifies a tremendous group of people in our league, builders who are true CFL stars without ever wearing a number. He deserves to be honoured for his contribution to making the Calgary Stampeders a first-class organization and McMahon Stadium a wonderful place to watch Canadian football."
The five gentlemen will be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame during Induction Weekend presented by Manitoba Lotteries this September 24th to 26th to be held in Winnipeg.
This is the first time since 2003 that the Hall of Fame's induction ceremony is taking place outside of Hamilton. "We are very pleased to have Manitoba Lotteries as our Presenting sponsor for this weekend," DeNobile added. "It's also very special that this event is associated with two charities the that will benefit from the funds raised - the "Never Alone Foundation" and "Winnipeg Harvest / Hunger for Hope".
The new inductees will bring the total Hall of Fame members to 239, who are all included in the Hall's Zone of Champions, which features busts of each member of the hall.
Each year a Selection Committee of learned football individuals from across the country elect up to five individuals for induction into the Hall of Fame in two categories: players with at least five years of football in Canada who has achieved "outstanding and extraordinary success" and builders who have made "an outstanding contribution to football in Canada."
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum operates as a non-profit registered charity.
Located in Hamilton, Ontario since 1963, and in its current location next to Hamilton City Hall since 1972, the Hall is home to more than 30,000 Canadian football artefacts, ranging from equipment and trophies to photos and videos.
It's open to the public year round, Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30.
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Canadian Football League Stories from April 7, 2009
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- Glen Weir Enters The Hall Of Fame - Montreal Alouettes
- Former Lion Jim Mills to enter Hall of Fame - B.C. Lions
- Anselmo, Johnson, Mills, Phillips And Weir To Be Inducted - CFL
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