Meet Paris’ 2024 Brant County Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

On Thursday, September 19th , friend and family gathered at the Brant Sports Complex to recognize and applaud the efforts of local athletes who made a mark in their field, showcasing sports excellence and defining true athleticism.

The Brant County Sports Hall of Fame was created to acknowledge the athletic achievements of those in the community. Ceremonies are held across the county, with Paris being the first stop of this acknowledgement tour. Paris’ Steve Fergus was awarded for his instrumental hand in resurrecting football at Paris District High School. Ronald Hampson was recognized for his impressive accomplishments in Judo Richard Ward, who grew up in Paris but lives in Brantford now, was recognized for his past – and ongoing – athleticism in many different Special Olympic sports. And finally, the 1995 PDHS Panthers Senior Basketball Team was inducted as winners of the New Waterford Coal Bowl classic tournament nearly 30 years ago.

Here’s a look at each inductees’ personal achievements:

STEVE FERGUS Builder – Football

Steve Fergus has been a member of the Paris Community Since 1985

2009 - Began the reintroduction of the Panther Football program at Paris District High School (PDHS) with a Junior football team

2011 - Organized a Bisons satellite PeeWee football team for boys in Paris and surrounding areas. The team was very successful and won the South West Ontario Championship.

2012 - Started a PDHS Senior football team to play in the Athletic Association of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. Through the years, hundreds of boys have developed athleticism and sportsmanship through the lessons learned while participating in Paris football programs A few have gone on to play at Canadian Universities, while some others have played in the Canadian Junior Football League.

2022 - Both Junior and Senior PDHS Football teams participated in the league finals. The Senior Panthers emerged with the win and went on to represent PDHS in the Central Western Ontario Secondary School Association (CWOSSA) playoffs.

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Ronaldhampson

Athlete – Judo

Ronald has been a member of the Paris Community since 1980

1974 - Ontario Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal Canadian Senior Championship – Bronze Medal Eastern Canadian Championship – Gold Medal

1975 - Ontario Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal

1976 - Canadian Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal

CNE International Tournament – Gold Medal

Canadian Sambo Heavyweight Champion

1977 - Canadian Heavyweight Championships –Bronze Medal

Lakehead University MaleAthlete of the Year

1978 - Canadian Heavyweight Champion – Gold Medal

1979 - Ontario Heavyweight Champion

Canadian Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal

Lakehead University Honour Athlete

Attended Pan American Games in Puerto Rico

1980 - Member of Team Canada at the Pacific Championship

Ron was a four time Great Plains Athletic Conference Champion in Judo while attending Lakehead University.

Ron was a member of the Canadian National Judo Team from 1976 to 1980. He is a National Ranked Judo Referee and a National Level Kata Judge. Ron has volunteered locally as the President of the Paris Men’s Slo Pitch League and coach of the Paris Mens’ Softball team and the Holy Family School baseball team

For the past twelve years Ron has been an associate instructor at Kawasaki Rendokan Judo Academy where he has assisted many athletes training and with obtaining their blackbelt status.

Richardward

Athlete - Special Olympics

Richard Ward was born in Paris, 1965

2005 - Provincial Summer Games Track and Field, Niagara Falls – Bronze Medal

2009 - Provincial Summer Games Track and Field, Windsor – Gold Medal

2010 - National Summer Games Track and Field, London – Bronze Medal

2019 - Provincial Winter Games Snowshoeing, Sault Ste Marie – Gold and Silver Medals

2020 - National Winter Games Snowshoeing, Thunder Bay – Gold and Bronze Medals

2022 - World Winter Games Russia Snowshoeing (cancelled due to war)

2023 - Provincial Winter Games Snowshoeing, Huntsville – 2 Gold Medals, Silver Medal

2024 - National Winter Games Snowshoeing, Calgary, Alberta – Gold Medal, 2 Silver Medals

Provincial Summer Games Swimming, Waterloo – 2 Silver Medals

Pictured to the left is Ron Hampson with his Hall of Fame plaque.

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1995PARISDISTRICTHIGHSCHOOL SENIORBOYSBASKETBALLTEAM Team - Basketball

Winners of the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic Tournament

The Paris DHS basketball team participated in the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic Tournament, a nationally based, full-week format with in-school accommodations in New Waterford, Nova Scotia in early 1995. This nationally recognized, week-long tournament, which began in 1980, was created to celebrate both the history of coal mining and basketball, instilling a special pride in the community that resonated across Canada Paris DHS was named champion of the Coal Bowl Classic, after winning the championship game over Dr. John Hugh Gillis High School from Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

• Blair Goodman set a Coal Bowl tournament record of ten 3-point baskets in a game (8 in one half). Matt Kerr captured the tournament MVP honors.

• Goodman, Kerr and Mark Sutherland were named to the tournament all-star team

• The Panthers went on to a 3rd place finish in Brant County regular season play and had a strong showing at the 1995 CWOSAA Championships.

Team: John Thompson, Dan Hammond, Ross Enslev (coach), Blair Goodman, Bill England, David Deveraux, Mark Sutherland, Dave MacDonald, Matt Kerr, Adam Sleeth, Jason Rupert, Bill Lord (Manager) provided by County of Brant