Hesquiaht couple Simon and Julia Lucas, and three other honorees, Eugene ‘Oscar’ Tom, Brian Amos and Jeff Cook, were inducted into the Nuu-chah-nulth Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 6. The induction took place during the 2013 Tlu-piich Games Opening Ceremony held at Maht Mahs.
“I am here to pay tribute to an old fella that did a lot for us in sports,” said Ruben Amos.
He remembered the days when Simon would pick the boys up from their homes, telling them that he signed them up for whatever sport was in season.
Related: 2013 Tlu-piich Games Photo Gallery http://www.hashilthsa.com/gallery/2013-tlu-piich-games
“They would buy us food, they would house us and never ask for anything in return,” Amos said.
Simon pointed out that sporting activities was one of the only positive things about residential schools; it got them out of the place and allowed them to meet other kids. He remembered that his first volleyball team at the residential school was called the Mush Eaters.
Matthew Lucas said his father Simon could not have done all of that without a great woman, Julia Lucas, there behind him.
Lucas said his father taught him how to catch while his mother was the super fan.
“You can always hear your mom’s voice in the crowd and it would keep us going,” he said.
“She would wake us up early in the morning to get us running; she knew what it would take to prepare for tournaments,” he said.
Not only did Julia take care of the boys but she also made their first uniforms when they were known as the Mean Machines.
Eugene ‘Oscar’ Tom, also of Hesquiaht, was another Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Bruce Lucas recalled how good Tom was at fast pitch and basketball.
“He had amazing jumping skills; we used to call him mowach (deer) because he could jump so high,” Lucas said.
Oscar thanked everyone, saying it was always about team effort; it was never a one-man show.
Tom went on to coach the younger Hesquiaht men.
“He was one of my first coaches and he was always there for us,” said Lucas, adding that it was Tom that inspired him to become a coach in later years.
Brian Amos was nominated posthumously to the Sport Hall of Fame. His wife Marge, along with their daughters, was happy to accept the honor.
Linus Lucas said Brian was such a great shortstop that batters from the opposing team would often drop their bats and walk away if they saw the ball was going toward Amos.
“They knew they didn’t have much of a chance,” Lucas said.
Marge Amos thanked everyone for honoring her late husband.
“When I married him, I didn’t know I was marrying sports,” she said. Every weekend they were going to one tournament or another.
“How we did it? Well, we did it as a family,” she recalled. They would camp together and the women would do the cooking. The kids were always along for the trip.
Amos played many sports, including fastball, basketball, and floor hockey. He would always tell his team members to think ahead and he knew several tricks to get opposing player off of their game.
“We all miss Brian and it’s a real honor to bring him to the Hall of Fame,” said Lucas.
Ron Hamilton paid tribute to the final inductee, Jeff Cook of Huu-ay-aht, by reading the nomination letter Cook’s grandson Frederick wrote.
In the letter, Frederick said his grandpa Jeff used to play fastball, soccer, basketball, volleyball hockey, and he was a gymnast.
Not only was Jeff a great athlete, but he also gives good advice, Frederick wrote.
Now that Frederick is involved in sports, he is grateful for his grandfather’s tireless support and contributions to his team.
Jeff once drove endless hours to get Frederick to a tournament. He not only stayed at the games to cheer his grandson on, he drove him all the way back to get him back home in time for school.
In recent years. Jeff supports local athletic events and is a season ticket holder to the Alberni Valley Bulldogs hockey team.
“He loves playing sports, watching sports and having fun,” Frederick wrote.
Frederick estimates that Jeff has raised more than $40,000 to support various tournaments.
“He is a gentleman, very dignified, a family man that is looked up to,” said Ron Hamilton of Jeff.
Jeff thanked Denny Grisdale for being part of his sporting career.
“Team sports are really about building friendships,” said Cook.
He recalled his younger days when his team would have to travel for tournaments, but Jeff’s family was of limited means and he sometimes couldn’t afford to go.
“I was a little embarrassed about that so this is why I support anybody who wants to play sports in any way I can,” he added.
