The BC Lions Football Club is pleased to announce three new additions to the club's Wall of Fame who will be inducted during a special halftime ceremony at Friday's home game versus the Calgary Stampeders.
Late Lions president and CEO, Bob Ackles, along with offensive line stalwarts Ian Sinclair and Gerald Roper will join former players and builders in one of the Lions' highest places of honour.
Bob Ackles was the Lions' original water boy who rose through the ranks and ultimately held titles as the club's director of football development and general manager before returning to BC after 15 seasons in the NFL in 2002 as president and CEO. An integral member of the club for more than 50 years before passing away on July 6, 2008 at the age of 69, Bob was inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and took his rightful place in the Lions' Ring of Honour in 2008.
Ian Sinclair holds his place in Lions history as one of the club's longest-serving centres, holding down the position for an 11-season stint between 1985 and 1995. Sinclair spent his college career at the University of Miami where he was a member of the 1983 Orange Bowl-winning squad that defeated Nebraska in arguably one of the most exciting U.S. national championship games in college football history. Ian was subsequently drafted by Montreal before joining the Lions in 1985 where he was a member of the Grey Cup champion squad inducted on to the Wall of Fame in 2007.
Well-respected for his consistent play on the line, Ian did not miss a game from 1986 to 1992, and was absent for only five in his career. A Lions offensive captain for eight seasons, Ian played an integral role in the Leos' trips to the Grey Cup in 1988 and 1994, and concluded his CFL career with two championship rings (1985, 1994), having appeared in 180 games.
Gerald Roper's steady play at the offensive guard position was a key factor in the Lions teams that dominated the West during the mid-1980s. The North Vancouver, BC product attended Carson Graham Secondary School and played with the Vancouver Meralomas and Simon Fraser University before heading south of the border for Golden West Junior College and the University of Arizona. Gerald joined the Lions during the 1982 season as a territorial exemption and started three Grey Cup games for the club (1983, 1985, 1988) - a mark surpassed only by Lui Passaglia's total of five.
Roper departed the Lions for Ottawa following the 1989 season but returned to BC for a final, brief stint in 1992. He concluded his Lions career having appeared in 122 games.
