Red Deer’s Hugh McPherson has been recognized on many occasions for his extensive work and involvement in the community.
He’s taking special pride in his latest honour — induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame as a multisport builder.
“This is recognition of the work I’ve done provincially . . . that the effect has been just beyond Red Deer, I guess,” McPherson said Wednesday.
The former school teacher and administrator has served in leadership positions on many boards and committees and is a 35-year member of the Red Deer Games Foundation, serving 14 years as the chair.
He was involved with the Red Deer Games Society, the Alberta Games in 1988, 1998 and 2006, the Alberta Special Olympics in 1993 and the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
McPherson has also served on the City of Red Deer recreation board, the Red Deer College athletic advisory board, the Alberta Sport Council, the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Society. He was also the recipient of the City of Red Deer Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 and a Province of Alberta Centennial Medal.
McPherson, as he stated after receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award five years ago, has never served as a community leader/volunteer with the notion of seeking admiration and accolades.
“The motivation has never been about recognition. That’s not why you get involved in any of these things,” he said. “But sometimes someone decides to do it for you, which makes me a little embarrassed.
“Really, the motivation is to see what difference you can make. That’s something I learned from my parents, who were both very community involved.”
McPherson is currently a member of the Red Deer 2019 Canada Winter Games committee and last week attended the Winter Games in Prince George on a fact-finding mission and came away impressed.
“The Canada Winter Games are going to be a really great event, a fun event for Red Deer,” he said.
Joining McPherson in the 2015 Alberta Sports Hall of Fame induction class are former world champion curler Kevin Martin, Carla MacLeod, a Canadian women’s national hockey team defenceman for six seasons, and former NHL/WHL player and Edmonton Oilers assistant general manager Bruce MacGregor, all in the athletes category.
Bill Warren of Calgary, a champion for Canadian and Olympic sports since the 1970s, will join McPherson in the multisport builder class, while long-time Calgary Flames trainer James ‘Bearcat’ Murray will be inducted as a hockey builder.
Chris Koch of Calgary, who has devoted his life to people with and without disabilities, and Joey Moss of Edmonton, who has worked with the Eskimos and Oilers training staffs on a daily basis for more than 30 years, will go into the Hall in the achievement award category.
Badminton builders David and Jean Folinsbee will be inducted as winners of the Pioneer Award, long-time Calgary Flames broadcaster Peter Maher will go in as the recipient of the Bell Memorial Award, and the Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby squad that won three consecutive CIS championships — from 2007 t0 2009 — will be inducted in the team category.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com