Lorne Davies (1986) - Hall of Fame - Simon Fraser University Athletics

Simon Fraser University Athletics

Hall of Fame

Lorne Davies

Class
Induction

1986
Sport(s)

Football

Lorne Davies is SFU’s founding Director of Athletics.

He chose the university's colours and described them this way: blue was for loyalty, red for courage and white for honesty.

Davies grew up in Vancouver and played football in his youth, winning a junior Canadian football championship with the Vancouver Blue Bombers. His prowess on the football field sent him south of the border on an athletic scholarship to Western Washington University where he played football while completing his degree in education.

In 1965, he became the first athletic director and football coach at SFU. He coached the football program for eight years while leading the Athletic Department for 30 years.

At the helm of SFU Athletics, Davies broke new ground for Canadian athletic programs, hiring full time coaches for the first time, awarding athletic scholarships to student-athletes and competing in the United States against American competition, offering students the opportunity to stay home and get a Canadian education while competing in the US.

After his retirement, Davies continued to serve as executive director of the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award program.

WATCH: Canada vs USA

LEARN MORE: In Memoriam