WATERLOO, Ont. – Laurier Athletics and Recreation is excited to announce this year's inductees for the 24th annual Legends of Laurier Football Gala, proudly supported by presenting sponsor Izzio Financial & Sun Life on Thursday, May 2.

The fifth Legends of Laurier Football class of inductees, honouring one Golden Hawk from each decade of the program's history, will include Paul Giannelia (1960-1969), Chuck McMann (1970-1979), Veron Stiliadis (1980-1989), Donnie Ruiz (1990-1999), Scott Evans (2000-2009), Dillon Campbell (2010-2019), and former defensive line coach Clarke Eady - who will be honoured as a lifetime achievement inductee.

Giannelia (REC, 1966-1968) was a two-year captain of the Golden Hawks, a former provincial all-star and an integral part of the 1968 Golden Hawks team that were College Bowl finalists.

The former receiver has a long record of outstanding achievements since graduating from Laurier; becoming the Managing Director of Straight Crossing Inc., Director of the Confederation Bridge Project, and winner of the prestigious Lester B. Pearson Award as a "distinguished Canadian citizen of outstanding achievements who participated in university sport", while also being a major contributor to Laurier through infrastructure projects. 

Giannelia is a three-time inductee into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame; as part of the 1966 and 1968 football teams and as a builder in 2015.

McMann (RB, 1973-1975) was a provincial all-star in every season he suited up for the Golden Hawks. The former running back, who passed away suddenly in 2021 at the age of 70, ranks eighth all-time in program history for both career carries and yards.

A part of the 1973 Yates Cup-winning team, McMann went on to a prolific playing and coaching career. After being drafted by Montreal in 1976, he went on to play eight seasons in the CFL with the Alouettes and Montreal Concordes, winning the Grey Cup in 1977. 

After his playing days, he became the head coach at both the University of Waterloo and McGill University and was named the Frank Tindall Trophy award winner in 2002 as the U SPORTS Football Coach of the Year with the Redmen.

He also spent 19 years in the CFL as an assistant coach with the Calgary Stampeders and BC Lions, winning three more Grey Cups in 1992, 1998, and 2011.

McMann has been inducted to the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame twice; in 1991 as an athlete and in 1999 with the '73 team.

Veron Stiliadis (DL, 1984-1989) was the first Golden Hawk to be named the country's best lineman, winning the JP Metras award in 1988. He was a three-time provincial all-star, a two-time All-Canadian and part of the 1987 Yates Cup-winning team.

Stiliadis was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 1987, named the school's President's Award winner in 1989, and inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 1991. 

Ruiz (DB, 1997-2000) played defensive back for Laurier from 1997 to 2000. In each of his final three seasons, he was a first-team OUA All-Star and a first-team All-Canadian and, in 1999, was named the OUA's Defensive Player of the Year. 

Ruiz still holds the program record for most interceptions in a season (seven) as well as tackles (65). He remains tied for the second-most career interceptions with 15, along with former teammate David Agro.

After signing with Winnipeg as an undrafted free agent, he went on to have a six-year CFL career, playing for the Blue Bombers, the Ottawa Renegades, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

Ruiz, who grew up in Stoney Creek, Ont., was inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2006.

Evans (OL, 2002-2008) was a three-time OUA first-team All-Star and CIS All-Canadian that help Laurier win its second Vanier Cup in 2005. 

In 2007, he became the second Golden Hawk - after Veron Stiliadis - to win the JP Metras award as the country's best lineman. 

The Cambridge, Ont. native signed as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts in 2008 was inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2013. 

Campbell (RB, 2011-2015) is the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,568 career yards and also holds the records for most yards in a season along with the most carries in a game, season, and career.

The native of Whitby, Ont. was a three-time team MVP, a three-time OUA all-star, a two-time All-Canadian, and OUA MVP. He was also named the school's President's Award winner in 2015. 

That same year, he was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts and was later signed by Saskatchewan and Montreal.

Campbell was inducted into the Golden Hawks Hall of Fame in 2020.

Eady (DL Coach) first joined the Golden Hawks as a defensive lineman in the early-1970's and was part of the 1972 Yates Cup-winning team that reached the College Bowl.

Later, as the team's defensive line coach, he won the 1987 Yates Cup and the 1991 Vanier Cup. 

In 2003, he was enshrined in the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame before winning a second Vanier Cup ring in 2005 as Laurier's assistant defensive line coach. 

Returning as emcee of the evening is Mike Hogan. Hogan, the current Communications Manager and radio play-by-play voice for the Toronto Argonauts is no stranger to the Golden Hawks. From 2003 to 2006, he was the voice of the team on 570 News (now CityNews 570), covering four Laurier Yates Cup appearances and the 2005 Vanier Cup championship.

The annual celebration begins at 5:00 pm and will include a welcome reception, silent and online auction, sit-down dinner, induction ceremony, and a "State of the Union" address by Laurier's manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds.

Tickets are still available for purchase online!