Former Mustangs football coach Larry Haylor is among the six new inductees into the Wall of Champions, The University of Western Ontario Mustangs football hall of fame. The induction dinner will be held on April 22.
The Champions Club announced yesterday (Feb. 11) the 2009 inductees into the Wall of Champions. The other inducted players include: post-70s fullback Duane Forde (1987-90) and linebacker Kevin Ford (1977-81); pre-70s quarterback George Arnott (1947-50) and star quarterback Ray Truant (1950-52); and the 1959 Western Mustangs football team.
The 1959 champion Western Mustangs
The Wall of Champions awards dinner, which will be held in the Great Hall, was founded in 2004 to recognize individuals who have made significant contribution to Mustangs football.
Individual tickets are $150 per person and a table of 10 is $1,500. Tickets and tables can be ordered by phone at 519-850-2548 or by e-mail at events@uwo.ca or online. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
To date, 42 Mustangs football alumni have been inducted to the Wall of Champions, along with two championship teams. The list of inductees is a “who’s who” of Canadian football and Canadian sport in general.
Past inductees include current head coach Greg Marshall, who guided the Mustangs to the Yates Cup in his first season as bench-boss, former Buffalo Bills special teams star Tim Tindale, and the 1957 championship team.
Here is a list of the 2009 inductees with brief biographical information:
Players
Post-70s
Duane Forde 1987-90
– Fullback
– OUA All Star 1989, 1990
– 1989 Atlantic Bowl MVP (Don Loney Trophy)
– Yates Cup champion 1988, 1989 and 1990
– Vanier Cup Champion 1989
– 1st round draft choice (1991) Calgary Stampeders
– 10-year CFL career – Grey Cup Champion
Kevin Ford 1977-81
– Linebacker
– 3 time OUA All Star 1979, 80, 81
– All Canadian 1981
– 3 time Yates Cup Champion 1979, 80, 81
Pre-70s
George Arnott 1947-50
– Quarterbacked 3 Yates Cup championship teams ’47 ’49 ’50
– Quarterback of undefeated 1947 Yates Cup team (6-0-1)
– League All-Star- ’49 ’50
– Member of four Senior Intercollegiate Basketball Championship teams 1947-50
– Captain 1950-51 basketball championship team
Ray Truant 1950-52
– Star QB
– Member 1950, ’52 Yates Cup Championship team
– 1952-53 Dr. Claude Brown Trophy Western most outstanding athlete
– Member 1951-52 O-QAA Basketball championship team
– 4th round draft choice (1953) Hamilton Tiger Cats
– 1956 CFL all-star
– 1956 Hamilton Tiger Cats nominee most outstanding Canadian player
Builder
Larry Haylor 1984- 2006
– All time win leader in CIS coaching history
– Career record of 178-47-4
– 8 Yates Cup Championships
– 2 Vanier Cup Championships
– 22 Consecutive seasons with a record .500 or better
– 6-time OUA Coach of the Year
Team
1959 Western Mustangs
Proceeds support student awards in athletics at Western. If attending, cocktails: 6 p.m.; dinner: 7 p.m. and business attire. Complimentary parking will be available in Weldon lot.