Three Argos named to Canadian football hall of fame class of 2012

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Toronto Argonauts Football Club would like to congratulate three of its own on being named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2012. Legendary quarterback Damon Allen in the player category, team owner Senator David Braley in the builder category, and running back Éric LaPointe in the amateur category. With these inductions, the total number of Argonauts in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame will be 59.

In just five seasons in Toronto (2003-07), Damon Allen carved his name into club record books. He sits second in club history in career passing yards (13,974), career attempts (1,713) and completions (1,051), career passing touchdowns (77), and once completed 13 consecutive passes in a game – the second-best streak in team history. He is one of just five Argos to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Award and, in 2005, he became the first Argo quarterback since Doug Flutie (1997) to earn CFL All-Star recognition. Allen, who led the Argos their league-leading 15th Grey Cup win in 2004, announced his retirement from the CFL as a member of the Double Blue on May 28, 2008. 

Allen became professional football’s all-time leading passer while playing for the Boatmen (72,381 yards), before giving way to Anthony Calvillo this season, and his 11,914 rushing yards rank as the third-highest total in CFL history – just 329 yards behind his brother, Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen’s career rushing total. He is one of just three quarterbacks in league history to run for 1,000 yards and pass for 4,000 yards in a single season (Tracy Ham and Kerry Joseph) – an achievement he reached in 1991 with the Ottawa Rough Riders. 

He played 23 seasons over three decades for CFL teams in Edmonton, Ottawa, Hamilton, Memphis, B.C. and Toronto and won championships in three of those cities. Allen is a four-time Grey Cup champion, two-time Grey Cup MVP, Grey Cup Offensive Player of the Game, an East Division and CFL All-Star and was the 2005 CFL Most Outstanding Player. 

Senator David Braley purchased the Toronto Argonauts on February 9, 2010 and has been involved with the Canadian Football League at the ownership and Board of Governors level for 20 years. In just under two seasons with the Argonauts, he has provided stability, as well as an exciting, new direction for North America’s oldest professional sports team. A true and passionate fan of the CFL and football in Canada, he has owned three CFL teams (including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and B.C. Lions), served as CFL Interim Commissioner (2002), and supported countless minor football development programs in Southern Ontario and British Columbia – including the Argonauts’ Level the Playing Field program which has now returned football to 10 GTA high schools. 

A leader among his peers on the Board of Governors, Braley’s efforts in recent years have played a significant role in stabilized the CFL and helped spurred its unprecedented growth. Braley acquired the BC Lion’s in 1997.  Under his leadership, the Lions are a team active in charitable and community endeavours, have won 2 Grey Cup championships and, this year, have reopened a state-of-the-art refurbished stadium.  Braley is also a member of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame, McMaster University Sports Hall of Fame, and the Hamilton Gallery of Distinction.  In May 2010, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed David Braley to the Canadian Senate. 

Éric Lapointe is considered by many as the greatest CIAU running back of all time as a member of the Mt. Allison Mounties from 1995 to 1998. He twice won the Hec Crighton award (1996 & 1998) and was a three time All-Canadian. Although LaPointe has been named to the induction class of 2012 in the amateur category, he spent one season as a member of the Toronto Argonauts in 2000. He was traded to the Argos, along with DB Orlondo Steinauer, in exchange for LB Mike O’Shea. He played in 11 games for Toronto, carried 11 times for 29 yards and caught 2 passes for 11 yards. He signed with Montreal as a free agent the following season.