Canadian Football Hall of Fame ready for Class of 2022

By Graham Kelly - INSIDE THE CFL on September 15, 2022.

Tomorrow night in Hamilton, the Class of 2022 will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. The distinguished group includes players Chip Cox, a Lark linebacker, Paul McCallum, Ricky Ray, Tim Tindale, two-time Hec Creighton winner with Western, the late Argo Dick Thornton, also builders Dave Ritchie who coached Montreal, B.C. and Winnipeg, Roy Shivers and Keith Evans(posthumously. My thoughts on four of them.

Mr. Evans founded the Calgary Colts junior team in 1963. The GM from 1969-2019, he spent thousands of his own dollars over his tenure to keep the Colts alive. Except for their Canadian champion clubs s in 1989 and ’90, his teams seldom won. But hundreds of young men from Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and all points in between were given a chance to play beyond high school. Our son Rob was one of them. He remembers what a great guy Keith Evans was and all the things he did for junior football.

In the 1990’s I noticed there were no players in the Hall of Fame who were strictly place-kickers. I pursued the matter with the league and, in 1998 former Edmonton star Dave Cutler went in, followed by Roughrider Dave Ridgway and B.C.’s Lui Passaglia, still the all-time scoring leader. Paul McCallum is second with 722 field goals, 801 consecutive converts and the longest three-pointer in league history, 62 yards.

McCallum began his CFL career in 1993 in B.C. and Ottawa, before moving to Regina. In 1995 he became the centre of controversy when Saskatchewan head coach Ray Jauch replaced home town hero Dave Ridgway with him. The club executive and media took Ridgeway’s side but McCallum stayed. Jauch quit in disgust. Although he became the second greatest kicker in team history, he was never popular in the Queen City. Those feelings spilled over in 2004 when he missed an overtime 18-yard FG try in B.C. that would have kicked the Riders into the Grey Cup.

Angry fans threatened McCallum’s wife and children and one tried to dump manure on McCallum’s driveway but the dim bulb got the address wrong and fertilized his neighbour’s asphalt instead. After enduring another season of abuse, he signed with B.C. in 2006, winning the Grey Cup twice in Lion livery.

One of the greatest personnel men of all-time, Roy Shivers played a key role in assembling Grey Cup champions in B.C. with Don Matthews in 1985, and, Wally Buono in Calgary in 1992 and the Lions in 2011. He became the first African-American GM in CFL history first with expansion Birmingham in 1995 and then with Saskatchewan from 2000-2006. He put together most of the Rider team that won the Grey Cup in 2007.

Shivers was determined to see black administrators and coaches given more opportunities. He hired only the second African-American head coach in CFL history, bringing Danny Barrett aboard.

After finding a player, Shivers stayed with him throughout his career as a father figure/counsellor especially to black players. Stampeder Allan Pitts was one of the greatest receivers of all time but a troubled soul. Thanks to Roy, Pitts had a prolific career. Many others owe their success in football and life to him. I always enjoyed talking to him. I consider Roy Shivers to be one of the most intelligent, kindest men I ever met in the game.

Quarterback Ricky Ray won two Grey Cups each in Edmonton and Toronto over 16 seasons. He was All-Canadian three times but amazingly never won the Most Outstanding Player Award. He is No. 4 all-time in passing, No. 2 in Grey Cups.

Just before Ray signed with Edmonton in 2002, he was delivering potato chips in California. His Arena League coach recommended him to Edmonton boss Tom Higgins. Considered a project, when All-Canadian QB Jason Maas was hurt in July, the unknown Ray stepped in and led his team to the Grey Cup and won it.

“I always felt confident I could play,” he said explaining his success at age 23. I didn’t know I was going to do as well as I did. The strength of my game is being able to learn and pick up things quickly, make good decisions and just be relaxed and calm.” He won his last championship at 38 years of age. He, too, is a super person.