From left to right, Al Wilson, Dal Richards, Jack Farley, and David Sidoo. Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, Postmedia News, Vancouver Sun
On October 6, 2012, David Sidoo and his former teammates from the 1982 UBC Thunderbirds Football team will be inducted into the BC Football Hall of Fame along with a number of highly regarded contributors to the sport.
David was present on September 14th when it was announced that 94-year old musician, composer and Vancouver legend, Dal Richards, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Special Award category. Almost 60 years ago Dal wrote the BC Lions’ football team cheer song, “Roar You Lions Roar.” From the Vancouver Sun article, “Richards has been bestowed with the Order of Canada, the Order of B.C., Freedom of the City by Vancouver council, an honourary Doctor of Letters from UBC, an honourary doctorate from BCIT, a place on the B.C. Lions Wall of Fame… Another accolade was added Friday when Richards joined the second class of inductees entering the nascent B.C. Foot-ball Hall of Fame…”
From the BC Football Hall of Fame website:
Outside of the football club itself, there is likely no one person more than Dal Murray Richards to have entertained so many Lions’ fans both on the field and off. As the club’s band leader from the first season in 1954, he led pre-game and half-time shows at Empire Stadium and B.C. Place Stadium that attracted fans of his own. Born in Vancouver, the “King of Swing” played in front of audiences with his “swing” band and also spent a career in hotel management. His most famous song has long been the Lions’ theme, “Roar You Lions Roar” and that may still be heard at every home game. He has been honoured many times and on February 3, 1984 Mayor Mike Harcourt declared “Dal Richards Day” in Vancouver. In 1994, Dal received the Order of Canada, in 2003 the Order of British Columbia, and in 2005 was enshrined on the BC Lions Wall of Fame.