Murray Lehman will be honoured for his 2012 induction into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame at a junior A lacrosse game next week.
Lehman, who gave a half century of his life to the junior game, mostly in New Westminster, was inducted into the hall last November.
"I was shocked," said Lehman, when he first heard of his induction.
Only one other hall of fame member, John Van Os, Lehman's mentor, has been inducted as a builder at the junior level.
"I say it was 50 years, but some say it was longer. But it's an experience I didn't think I will feel again," said Lehman, who stumbled on Canada's summer sport by accident.
Back in the 1960s, Lehman and Bob Marineau co-owned the Junior A Royals baseball club that played in the Metro Vancouver league.
"It was funny how I got involved (in lacrosse)," said Lehman.
One Thursday, after a rainout at Queen's Park, Marineau suggested the pair take in a senior lacrosse game at the arena across the way.
"There were three guys I knew working the time clock," said Lehman. "They asked me, 'Do you want to get involved?' I said, 'Doing what?'
"I played (baseball), I coached it and I managed it. But when I saw my first lacrosse game, I said, 'This is the game I could enjoy.'"
He started as a goal judge and then was elevated to a bench official in the old Inter-City league, which is now the Western Lacrosse Association.
He soon began to coach youngsters where he lived in the South Burnaby minor association and later managed teams across the border in New Westminster, when the two Burnaby associations merged in the mid-1970s.
In 1981, Lehman took on the mantel of B.C. junior A league commissioner, a position he held for nine seasons.
In the '90s, he turned to managing, working in Coquitlam for a short time before returning to the Royal City for the next 11 years in a variety of roles, including junior A club president and a Minto Cup in 1994.
At the same time, he also held a position on the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame board of governors, including that of chair from 1994 to '99.
"One of the best moves I made was turning the (junior A) franchise over to Walt (Weaver). He was one of the reasons I came back," said Lehman, who is the current general manager of the New Westminster junior B club.
"(Walt) didn't want the Bs to fold. He didn't have to twist my arm too hard."
Lehman cannot begin to list the many experiences he has had from his connection with lacrosse. But remembering the old-time all-star games and the inspired playoff run that led to the club's last Minto Cup in '94, stand out.
"Lacrosse was so unique. To see these guys out there with wooden sticks and no helmets. They got to be crazy. But it began a love affair that hasn't stopped," he said.
Lehman will be honoured in a special ceremony at the game between New Westminster and Burnaby to be held at Queen's Park Arena on Tuesday, June 25 at 8 p.m.
