February 27, 1998
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

William Halfyard, president of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, announced today that the Board of Directors of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador have elected two new members to the Board of Governors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame.

John W. McGrath, a St. John's lawyer, has been elected chairperson of the Board of Governors. McGrath is a former member of the Board of Governors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame, an inaugural director of the St. John's Maple Leafs Board of Directors; past president of the Newfoundland Soccer Association and the Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Sports Federation. Currently, McGrath is an elected member of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada and an active squash player.

Halfyard said: "Sport Newfoundland and Labrador is delighted and very fortunate to have John McGrath as chairperson of the Board of Governors. John has been involved in sport as a player and administrator for over 28 years and he has a great knowledge of sport and its development on both the local and provincial level."

Halfyard also announced that Edward J. Murphy, a St. John's chartered accountant, has been elected as a member of the Board of Governors. Murphy has given over 30 years of his time to the development of sport, namely basketball, on both the provincial and national level. He has served on the executive of Basketball Newfoundland for many years and he is a former president of Basketball Canada. In addition to his involvement with basketball, Murphy has served as treasurer of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, treasurer of the Newfoundland Gymnastics Association, treasurer of the HUB (Handicapped Service Asociation) and is currently treasurer of Scouts Canada (Newfoundland District). Mr. Murphy is a former member of the Selection Committee of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame.

Halfyard said: "Sport Newfoundland and Labrador is delighted and very fortunate to also have Edward Murphy as a member of the Board of Governors. Ed has been involved in sport as a player and administrator for over 30 years and like McGrath he has a great knowledge of the sport scene and its development on both the local and provincial level."

McGrath replaces former chairperson Gail Roberts of St. John's whose term of office recently expired and Murphy replaces former member Duey Fitzgerald of St. John's. Both appointments are for a three year term.

Contact: Renee Dowden, (709) 576-4932.