Since the end of 2023, Richmond Sentinel has highlighted past inductees and their journey into the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame. In this edition, we look at the sports contributions of the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame, Class of 2016, the inaugural group of inductees since the establishment of the program.

Matt Phillips – Football 

Without Matt Phillips, there would be no football programs for three high schools: Steveston Secondary School, Cambie Junior High, and London Junior Secondary. Matt Phillips was selected to play in the Canadian Football League as a free agent for one year when he graduated from school. One year later, he created a football program at Steveston Senior Secondary in 1960. Starting with virtually nothing, all equipment needed had been donated by existing programs around the city. He also took on the role of head coach of the program until 1971. In 1972, Matt would start another football program at Cambie Junior Secondary and coach their team as well until 1978. In 1979 he started a third football program at London Junior Secondary and took on the role of head coach as well. He would later donate the equipment that had been donated to him before to Hugh Boyd Junior High, helping them start their own football program.

Paul Alexander – Air Gun 

Paul Alexander arrived in Richmond at the age of 6 in 1947, he joined the Richmond Rod and Fun Club in 1969. As a member of the club, he served as an official, administrator, athlete, and even the clubs president at times. As an athlete, he competed in multiple tournaments and even won the silver medal at the 1988 BC Summer Games that were held in Victoria. He was part of the Richmond Rod and Gun club’s shooting division from 1969 to 2014 and served as an official for the Shooting Federation of Canada (SFC) from 1986 to 2015. He was also an international official, attending numerous tournaments around North America. In 2005, Paul received the Alois Lander Volunteer Award and the SFC 2009 Official of the Year award. He was the only one with a B-International Coaches License in air pistol in the province, and volunteered his own time promoting competitive shooting in Richmond.

Rick Henderson – Soccer

Rick Henderson attended the University of Calgary playing basketball and soccer before transferring to the University of British Columbia to complete a law degree. He is a founding member of multiple sports organizations around Richmond including the Richmond Sports Council, the Senior Men’s Basketball League, and the Richmond Masters Basketball League. He would take his athletic experiences and apply them to coaching Richmond youth soccer, basketball, and ringette. In 1992, he captured a silver medal at the BC Winter Games in Ringette-Zone 4. His athletes would follow up that victory with four trips to the Ringette Provincials where they would be crowned provincial champions three out of four times. In 1997 he and his team captured the Richmond Masters League basketball league championship. In 2003, Richmond Sports Council named him a lifetime member, till this day he is still practicing law.

Ronald White – Football

Ronald White lived in Richmond from 1964 to 2010, during that time he contributed to the city’s local football program and a drug education program. He helped establish the Richmond Raiders football program and served as an executive, manager, and coach of various football teams and leagues. Between 1964 and 1969, Ronald was the coach of six different championship teams, four in Richmond and two Richmond/Delta combined teams. In 1972, Ronald’s Roughriders Bantam team were crowned BC Provincial champions. In 1986, the BC junior football association recognized him as executive of the year, three years later he would receive the 1989 Builder Award from Football BC and be named a Lifetime Member by the Canadian Jr. Football League. The Richmond Raiders would induct him into their hall of fame in 1990. In 2002, BC Football Conference named the Community Service Award for Ron White Award for his contributions to the sport of football in BC.

Sam Gilmore – Athletics

Sam Gilmore was a long-time Richmond resident who had a large impact on the founding and organizing of lacrosse in Richmond. He was the father of Audrey Wylie, Boyd Gilmore, and served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 29th Battalion during World War I. He was pivotal in the organization of the July 1st Armed Services Sports Day in France during World War I. When he returned from the war, he and his brother both took up farming and pushed for the sport of lacrosse in Richmond. In the 1930s, Sam would go onto coach and manage the South Arm Sovereigns. As a coach, manager, and player, lacrosse teams travelled by boat to compete against other local teams in New Westminster, Vancouver, and Burnaby. Sam Gilmore was awarded the Good Citizen award in 1963 and had a lacrosse box named after him at Brighouse Park. It can be found at the intersection of No. 3 Road and Granville Avenue.

Turlough O’Hare – Swimming

Turlough O’Hare grew up in Richmond, he attended Donald E. McKay Elementary School. From 1980 to 1987, he swam for both Vancouver College and the Richmond Aquanauts. In 1987, he transferred to the University of British Columbia to complete a degree in Kinesiology while swimming competitively as well. He captured two silver medals in 200m Freestyle and 400m Freestyle category at the 1987 CIS Championship. The following year, he captured the gold in the 400m Freestyle, Bronze in the 200m Freestyle, and Silver in the 1500m Freestyle categories at the 1988 CIS Championship. He participated in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, won Gold at the 1989 Pan Pacific Games in Tokyo. In 1990, Turlough captured silver at the Commonwealth Games, three gold medals and three silver medals at the 1990 CIS Championships. In total, Turlough won 12 gold medals for the University of British Columbia at the CIS Championships.

Wally Iverson – 10 Pin Bowling 

Wally Iverson lived in Richmond from 1964 until 2004. He loved the sport of bowling and competed individually and on various teams. In his bowling career, he bowled two perfect games; once in 1950 in a five-pin bowling match and the other in 1959 in a 10-pin bowling match. Wally bowled individually from 1958 to 1985. From 1961 to 1973 he bowled for the American Bowling Congress and scored 700 or more five times. In 1976 he was inducted into the BC Bowling Hall of Fame. Wally also bowled for Richmond’s Top Gun Lanes alongside his son Ian. Wally has represented the province and the nation in multiple events. In 1973, he represented BC in the World Cup Roll offs, in 1974, he represented the Nation as a member of the Canadian Ten Pin Federation Team in Caracas Venezuela. His bowling career has seen him face off against some of the best bowlers in America including Dick Hoover, Buzz Fazio, and Bob Strampee.

Yuichi Akune – Kendo 

Yuichi Akune lived in Richmond from 1927 to 1995, he was influential in the establishment of the Steveston Kendo Club. He was part of the Steveston Seine Kai (Young Men’s Association), joining as a member, before quickly becoming the head instructor of the association and captain of the Canadian team at an international kendo tournament. He won the title of Grand Champion in 1932 at the USA & Canada International Championships. Due to the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, Yuichi and his family were interned in Raymond, Alberta in 1942. Upon returning from internment, Yuichi would re-establish the Steveston Kendo Club as chief instructor from 1952 to 1980. During that time, Yuichi organized and attended many international championships. The Japan Kendo Federation awarded him his 7th degree in 1958 and 8th degree; hanshi or master swordsman – first class, in 1970. In 1960, Yuichi was elected president of the Canada Kendo Federation.

1996 U18 Air Attack – Volleyball

The 1996 U18 Air Attack team started out in grade 8 as members of Burnett Junior High School. They would attend Richmond High School together, continuously developing their skills and chemistry as a team. The team has seen lots of success individually and collectively. In 1994, Candice Hayden, Kristina Laffling, and Adrienne Sankey were named First All-Stars at BC High School Championships. From 1994 as a Burnett Breaker to 1996 as a Richmond Colt, the team experienced three undefeated seasons, subsequently becoming champions. Laffling and Sankey would be named First All-Stars again in 1995 and 1996. In 1996, Adrienne Sankey was named First All-Star at the National Women’s Championship and Kristina Laffling was named Most Valuable Player of the whole tournament. The team went undefeated in U-18 club play and were crowned BC and Juvenile National Champions, becoming only the second team from BC to win a National Championship.