Roughriders announce 2025 Plaza of Honour inductees
The team announced its latest inductees on Monday morning.
All three will be formally enshrined in the plaza during a special ceremony at halftime on Sept. 13 when the Riders face the Montreal Alouettes, the team said in a news release.
Best was a member of the 2007 and 2013 Grey Cup winning teams. He was part of the offensive line in 2007 that helped quarterback Kerry Joseph win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award that year. Best was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2011. The 2005 fourth overall draft pick played 114 regular season games with the Green and White.
Alex Smith Sr. was a key member of the Riders' coaching staff as an assistant coach that helped the team win four West Division titles and the 2007 Grey Cup. Working with the team full-time for 16 seasons, (1997-2012) Smith Sr. is the longest serving coach in franchise history. Smith Sr. coached special teams, running backs and linebackers and was heavily involved with the CFL Draft.
Steve Molnar, who died in 2021, will be inducted posthumously in 2025 after being announced as part of the 2024 class. Molnar's induction was pushed back a year due to illness in his family. Known as the fullback who took over for the retiring George Reed in 1976, Molnar played for the Riders from 1969 to 1978 and rushed for 2,549 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 142 passes for 1,552 yards and two touchdowns. Molnar played in the 1969, 1972 and 1976 Grey Cup games and was named the teams' Most Outstanding Canadian in both 1976 and 1977. In 1976 he led the Riders in rushing yards with 822, a year the team finished top spot in the Western Conference.
The Plaza of Honour selection committee, made up of eight members, meets each spring to discuss and vote on the newest inductees.
The selection committee includes chair Steve Mazurak, Alan Ford, Cleveland Vann and Wes Cates. As well as journalist and broadcaster Don Hewitt, board member Terri Strunk, former board chair Barry Clarke and team historian Rob Vanstone.
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