Former CFL player, commissioner Larry Smith leads 2023 Hall of Fame class

Larry Smith has pretty much seen and done it all in the CFL.

The 71-year-old Hudson, Que., native has been a player (1972-81, Montreal Alouettes), team executive (Alouettes president 1997-01, 2004-10) and served as CFL commissioner (1992-97). He spearheaded the league's foray into the U.S. during one of its most tumultuous stretches.

On Thursday, Smith was named for induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame as a builder.

"It's something as a player [and] as an administrator I never really though too much about," Smith said. "As a player, I played with great individuals and having had a coach like Marv Levy was not only an honour but a tremendous growing experience because you learned a lot about human dynamics.

The '23 class includes linebacker Solomon Elimimian, defensive lineman John Bowman, defensive back Larry Crawford and Canadian offensive linemen Josh Bourke and Lloyd Fairbanks. Jacques Dussault was also named as a builder.

All will be formally inducted Sept. 15.

Chris Schultz, a former Toronto Argonauts offensive lineman and TSN broadcaster, will be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame's media wing on Nov. 19 with sportswriter Vicki Hall and TSN producer Jon Hynes.

Schultz died from a heart attack in 2021.

Smith was the first player taken in the '72 CFL draft out of Bishop's. The running back was part of two Grey Cup-winning teams (1974, '77) under Levy, who joins the late Bud Grant and quarterback Warren Moon as the only individuals enshrined in both the Canadian and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He is best remembered for leading the CFL's American expansion. Between 1993 and '95, the league had franchises in Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Shreveport, Birmingham, Memphis and Baltimore before