The BC Lions Football Club is pleased to announce this evening that former Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson and former head coach and team executive Bob O’Billovich will be included in the 2015 induction class of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Joining the club in 2003 where he was reunited with former head coach Wally Buono, Dickenson appeared in 65 games over five seasons for the Lions throwing for 13,573 yards on 979 completions with 90 touchdowns.
The Montana native led the club to two Grey Cup appearances including the Lions’ 2006 title win and sits fifth all-time in passing yards among the franchise’s quarterbacks.
His most productive season came in 2003, when he passed for 5,496 yards, the second-best single-season total in team history, while his career completion percentage of 69.2 leads all former BC quarterbacks.
O’Billovich, who will go into the Builder category next fall, originally joined the BC Lions as head coach in September 1990 after eight successful seasons in Toronto. He led the club through three years and 43 regular season games before returning to the Argos.
In 2003, the veteran coach and executive returned to the Lions under GM Wally Buono as the club’s director of player personnel and went on to recruit legions of outstanding players including Cam Wake, Aaron Hunt, Jarious Jackson and Dante Marsh to name a few.
Before departing the Lions to become GM of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2008) O’Billovich and Buono had partnered to build one the league’s most powerful franchises compiling a record of 63-26-1 over five regular seasons and a .706 winning percentage, the highest in the Canadian Football League over that span with a Grey Cup title in 2006.
The Lions also pass on congratulations to Larry Reda who will go into the Builder category in 2015. Reda has served at virtually every level of amateur football in British Columbia including director and president of the BC Junior Football League.
Among his many personal accomplishments are his lifetime membership in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), his role as trustee for the BC Sports Hall of Fame’s selection committee, his charter membership in the BC Football Hall of Fame and his Commissioner’s Award which was presented to Larry in 2011 for his outstanding service to football in Canada.
Whether you’re renewing your current seats or signing up for 2015 there’s no better time than right now to take advantage of savings up to 27% on the price of single game tickets.
Early-bird renewals and new season ticketholders purchasing before December 16th can also secure their seats at 2014 pricing and everyone renewing or purchasing seats for the 2015 season through January 30th, 2015 will also be entered to win a 2015 Nissan Titan.
Thanks to the BC Lions for the press release.