1. JOHN’S, NL—Sport Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to announce that the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame Board of Governors will induct three new members into the provincial Sports Hall of Fame. These honourable inductees will be celebrated at the annual Stars and Legends Awards Gala taking place on April 8, 2017.

The 2017 inductees are:

  • Gerald Lomond in the “Builder” category (Gymnastics)
  • Rod Snow in the “Athlete” category (Rugby)
  • Glenn Stanford in the “Athlete/Builder” category (Soccer/Basketball/Hockey)

*Biographies for each of the inductees are below.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame encourages development of all aspects of sport by permanently recording the achievements and history of outstanding individuals. It is used to recognize, honour and pay tribute to individuals, groups, associations, families and/or teams on the basis of playing ability, sportsmanship and character. The individuals inducted have achieved extraordinary distinction in either amateur and/or professional athletics in any sport.

“I am so proud of the individuals who are going to be honoured this year,” said Ed Murphy, Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. “All three are very dedicated individuals who continuously put hard work into their sport. They’ve truly honed their skills and that is why they are being recognized. We thank and congratulate them for their tremendous contributions to the provincial sporting community.”

The 2017 inductees will be honoured at the ninth annual Stars and Legends Awards Gala taking place at the Sheraton Hotel Newfoundland in St. John’s on April 8, 2017 at 7 p.m. Tickets for this event can be purchased through Sport Newfoundland and Labrador at (709) 576-4932.

Sport Newfoundland and Labrador is the volunteer organization committed to the promotion and advancement of amateur sport throughout the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Sport Newfoundland and Labrador represents 55 provincial sport organizations and more than 70,000 individual members by offering a broad range of programs and services.

 

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For more information contact:

Troy Croft

Executive Director, Sport Newfoundland and Labrador

709-576-4932

 

2017 Hall of Fame Inductees Biographies

 

Gerald Lomond – Builder Category (Gymnastics)

Gerald Lomond was one of the pioneers for the sport of Gymnastics in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. His involvement began in the 1960’s when he was one of three founding members of a provincial Gymnastics association and the founder of a gymnastics club in Gander. A physical education teacher at Gander Academy, Lomond saw a chance in 1969 to purchase gymnastics equipment to create a school-based gymnastics program for his school. He was enthusiastic to work with a sport where elementary aged children could participate competitively.

His interests intensified and led him to travel outside the province to gain knowledge and training through various workshops and clinics. As the sport was getting organized in Newfoundland, his dedication and willingness to travel, learn and earn certifications helped kick-start gymnastics in Newfoundland and Labrador. Lomond became an advocate for new coaches and clubs, he gave his time to those looking to further the sport and instilled a culture of development and loyalty in members that is still evident today as many of his club members have taken on lead roles in the provincial gymnastics association. Under Lomond’s leadership the gymnastic club in Gander is the longest continuous running club in our province. The club has helped foster many athletes while also opening its doors so all children could participate. He fostered a culture of giving back and encouraged an atmosphere, which included volunteerism at a young age. Free programming was offered to recreational athletes by requiring competitive athletes to assist with coaching at the beginner levels. Gander did not charge registration fees for participants until the late 1970’s and even then he tried to maintain a low cost so all children had the opportunity to learn the sport.

Lomond was determined to spread Gymnastics around the province and he found the ways to do so. This effort resulted in him being responsible for developing five gymnastics clubs on the island portion of the province. As an advocate for gymnastics, he would travel to communities providing gymnastic displays and encouraging parents, recreational facilities and physical education teachers to start clubs in their communities. Port aux Basques, Glovertown, and Grand Falls all began successful clubs under Lomond’s mentorship, clinics to train coaches, organizing volunteers and regular consultations. When the Newfoundland and Labrador Games concept started in 1976 Lomond lobbied for the sport of Gymnastics to be one of the sports in the first 1978 provincial Winter Games. The sport was accepted into the games program and Lomond was named the sport’s convenor. This led to the creation of a new gymnastics club in Lewisporte and Clarenville when those communities were the host site for the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games. Lomond advocated for provincial grants to ensure that Lewisporte and Clarenville had equipment ahead of their prospective games hosting. He helped to train coaches, select equipment, supported parents and provided advice for starting clubs. His determination led to the Towns of Lewisporte and Clarenville successfully starting gymnastics clubs and developing teams for the hosting of the Newfoundland and Labrador Winter Games.

With so many clubs established Lomond continued to work with the development of the sport. As the provincial Women’s Technical Chairperson for several years, he was a leader in the development of the first set of Atlantic Canadian Women’s Technical rules used to govern Atlantic Canadian Championships. He also adopted the USA compulsory program to ease development and make beginner coaching and judging easier for those being introduced to the sport. He held many roles over the years including Women’s Judging Chair, Provincial Judging Clinician and Men’s Technical Chairperson. Lomond was one of the first certified NCCP clinicians for Gymnastics in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and he was also instrumental in developing the province’s first gymnastics’ officials and judges. Lomond was ahead of his time pushing for videotapes for training purposes so distribution of routines with script and scoring with regulations was easily accomplished. During the first three decades that gymnastics was developing in our province Gerald Lomond was a lead coach, official, and executive member who can be credited with many firsts for his sport. His efforts helped foster Gymnastics development and contributed to the success of its athletes and clubs in this province. For his contribution to the success of gymnastics in his hometown Lomond was inducted into the Gymnastics Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Gander Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

 

Rod Snow – Athlete Category (Rugby)

As one of the most prolific front row players to ever represent Canada, Rod Snow has enjoyed an illustrious Rugby career that spanned four decades. In 1989, a nineteen-year-old Snow represented Canada in the annual fixture against the US Collegiate All-Stars and became a member of the Canadian Developmental Team. In  1991 the Canadian Developmental Team did a tour of New Zealand playing in all five fixtures. By 1994, Snow had earned his first senior Cap at hooker against Argentina. In all 62 Caps for Canada Rod Snow played in all front row positions scoring seven tries. This feat made Snow the most capped dedicated front row player to ever play for Canada. His world-class skills lead him to Canada’s formidable scrum, playing in the 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups.

His skills lead him to play professionally beginning in 1995 for Eastern Province starting in all six Currie Cup matches. Later that year, he signed with Newport RFC (later known as the Gwent Dragons) where he played with this club for ten years. Snow scored thirty tries in 150 matches with Newport, the most of any front row player in the 140-plus-year history of the club. His skills helped his team become the Welsh Cup champions in 2001. His Newport accolades include being awarded the Player of the Year Award in 1997 and 2003; and his Testimonial Dinner in 2005 for ten year’s service – raising 20,000 pounds sterling for various Welsh charities. In 2016 Snow was honoured by being inducted into the Newport Rugby Hall of Fame. Following his retirement from professional Rugby, Snow returned home to Newfoundland and played with the Newfoundland and Atlantic Rock for six seasons. He was an integral part of the National Championship wins in 2006, 2007 and 2010. Other honours for Snow included having played for the Barbarians versus Wales in 1996 and versus east Midlands in 2003; played for the World XV in their match against Argentina in 1999; named the #3 prop in the world, as rated by World Rugby Magazine, October 1999 and he was named as British Writers’ Player of the Year in 2005. In 1995 Snow was named Newfoundland and Labrador’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

Rod Snow’s on-field reputation for uncompromising physicality, tenacity and world-class skills, combined with the record number of appearances for Canada and other Rugby clubs clearly identifies him as an outstanding athlete. These traits exemplify an important era in Canadian Rugby at a time when Canada competed internationally at a very high level and won many tests against higher-ranked countries. In late January 2017 Rugby Canada announced that Rod Snow was one of a select group to be named to Rugby Canada’s Hall of Fame. That ceremony will take place later this year.

There is no doubt that Rod Snow’s success with Rugby has been and will continue to have a source of inspiration for the many generations of rugby players and fans to follow.

 

 

Glenn Stanford – Athlete/Builder Category (Soccer/Basketball/Hockey)

Glenn Stanford was a skilled athlete who enjoyed exceptional success in the sports of soccer and basketball. As a member of the Holy Cross and Memorial University Soccer Teams he was a natural leader who was extremely effective on defense with great passing skills and outstanding offensive abilities. He played a major role in the overall success that Holy Cross achieved in provincial and St. John’s competition and was a valuable member of the 1979, 1983, 1984 and 1985 Holy Cross clubs that won the provincial championships. His skills proved very valuable for the Holy Cross teams that won the St. John’s championships in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1985. He was also a very valuable member of the Memorial University Male Varsity Soccer Team in 1979 and 1980.

Stanford also excelled at basketball during a twenty-year career overflowing with team and personal achievements making him one of the most outstanding basketball players produced within Newfoundland and Labrador. Due to his great ball handling skills and an impressive knowledge of the game Stanford was able to successfully compete at the University and National levels. From 1977 to 1980 Stanford was captain of the Memorial University Varsity Basketball Team, winning MVP selections at Provincial and Atlantic tournaments. He was a first team all-star at the Nova Scotia College Tournament and his overall contributions to sport at MUN earned him membership into the University’s Athletic Honours Society. Stanford was an excellent athlete but he also played the role of coach. He was assistant coach for the provincial Men’s Basketball Team that competed in the 1981 Canada Summer Games in Thunder Bay. He also coached the Newfoundland and Labrador Junior Men’s Team at the Canadian Championships.

With multiple athletic accomplishments, Stanford continued his career moving into Hockey as a high level administrator. He began his hockey involvement as Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador High School Athletic Federation. He continued on as Manager of the St. John’s Memorial Stadium and made his way to the American Hockey League. Stanford’s was named top CEO in 2002 and 2012 and he is one of only four people in the 81- year history of the league to earn this honour twice. Stanford led an extremely successful St. John’s Maple Leafs and St. John’s Ice Caps hockey operations. His leadership played a major role in the Ice Caps recording 127 consecutive sell-out crowds at Mile One. His abilities in promotion and marketing were recognized as early as 1997 when he received the Ken Mackenzie Award for the AHL Executive with the best promotion in a local market. He has received many professional honours including the 2005 Thomas Ebight Award for career contributions to the AHL, the 2004 Special Olympics Sports Celebrities Festival National Volunteer of the Year and two other honours in 2004 including the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals for significant contributions to Canada and the James C. Hendy award from the AHL for Outstanding League Executive Performance. The manner in which he conducted himself as a General Manager within the American Hockey League with several teams, earned him induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2011 the opportunity to bring an AHL franchise back to St. John’s was up for discussion. Stanford’s ability and reputation were crucial in negotiations and were a major factor as the Ice Caps came fully prepared for a successful season in St. John’s.

Stanford has been an outstanding Athlete and Sports Administrator. His tremendous performances have been recognized on many occasions for his skill and professionalism. Stanford is a member of the Provincial Hockey, Basketball and Soccer Hall of Fames as well as the St. John’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Glenn Stanford has had tremendous success in soccer, basketball and hockey and has made outstanding contributions to sport within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.