Sports Hall of Fame

Don Henderson was a man with a deep fascination for all things mechanical. His journey began at Hardie’s Garage, located at the intersection of Bishopsgate and Highway 53, where he apprenticed and earned his mechanic’s license in 1960. Even before this, Don had already been making a name for himself by building stock car engines for racers at Mohawk Speedway in Brantford.

1959 Don’s career took a significant turn when he started working at Brant County Ford. This opportunity allowed him to channel his passion into making Fords go faster, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey in the world of drag racing. His drag racing career, which began in the early 1960s, spanned over three decades until his passing in 1994.

1960s and 1970s Don was not only building stock car engines for cars racing on the dirt track at Flamborough and the paved track at the Canadian National Exhibition, but he was also serving as the head of Tech Inspection at both 1320/Superboss Dragway in Cayuga and Toronto International Dragway in Georgetown. His expertise and dedication earned him a prestigious honour in 1966 when he was selected to drive #25 of only 57 factory lightweight 427 Fairlanes ever created. This car was one of only seven sent to Canada and the sole one in Ontario. Don set records and won his class at the Indianapolis Nationals with this remarkable vehicle.

1968 Don was awarded one of only three 1968 ½ Factory Lightweight Cobra Jet Mustangs delivered to Canada, out of a total of 50 built by Ford for drag racing.

1970 Don and his wife Grace founded Don Henderson Technical Services behind their home on Maple Avenue, on the site of the dairy where Don’s father, Harry, had worked. This garage quickly became a cornerstone of the community, offering everything from general repairs on cars, trucks, and tractors to high-performance racing engines. Don’s skill in building award-winning race engines for himself and his customers set many National Hot Rod Association records.

Don and Grace were also deeply committed to their community, sponsoring local sports teams, including hockey, soccer, and baseball, and actively participating in community service clubs. They were also collectors of rare performance cars and enjoyed cruising in Don’s prized 1961 Starliner, which still remains in the family. In 1988, Don acquired and raced his own 1966 Factory Lightweight 427 Ford Fairlane (#50 of the original 57 built), which he enjoyed racing until 1994.

2023 In a ceremony in Montreal, Don was inducted into the Canadian Drag Racing Hall of Fame. Don Henderson’s legacy is one of passion, skill, and community spirit, leaving an indelible mark on the world of motorsports and the hearts of those who knew him.

2009 - Began the reintroduction of the Panther Football program at Paris District High School (PDHS) with a Junior football team

2011 - Organized a Bisons satellite PeeWee football team for boys in Paris and surrounding areas. The team was very successful and won the South West Ontario Championship.

2012 - Started a PDHS Senior football team to play in the Athletic Association of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. Through the years, hundreds of boys have developed athleticism and sportsmanship through the lessons learned while participating in Paris football programs. A few have gone on to play at Canadian Universities, while some others have played in the Canadian Junior Football League.

2022 - Both Junior and Senior PDHS Football teams participated in the league finals. The Senior Panthers emerged with the win and went on to represent PDHS in the Central Western Ontario Secondary School Association (CWOSSA) playoffs.

1974 - Ontario Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal Canadian Senior Championship – Bronze Medal Eastern Canadian Championship – Gold Medal

1975 - Ontario Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal

1976 - Canadian Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal

CNE International Tournament – Gold Medal

Canadian Sambo Heavyweight Champion

1977 - Canadian Heavyweight Championships – Bronze Medal

Lakehead University Male Athlete of the Year

1978 - Canadian Heavyweight Champion – Gold Medal

1979 - Ontario Heavyweight Champion

Canadian Heavyweight Championships – Gold Medal

Lakehead University Honour Athlete 

Attended Pan American Games in Puerto Rico

1980 - Member of Team Canada at the Pacific Championship

Ron was a four time Great Plains Athletic Conference Champion in Judo while attending Lakehead University.

Ron was a member of the Canadian National Judo Team from 1976 to 1980. He is a National Ranked Judo Referee and a National Level Kata Judge.

Ron has volunteered locally as the President of the Paris Men’s Slo Pitch League and coach of the Paris Mens’ Softball team and the Holy Family School baseball team.

For the past twelve years Ron has been an associate instructor at Kawasaki Rendokan Judo Academy where he has assisted many athletes training and with obtaining their blackbelt status.

2005 - Provincial Summer Games Track and Field, Niagara Falls – Bronze Medal

2009 - Provincial Summer Games Track and Field, Windsor – Gold Medal

2010 - National Summer Games Track and Field, London – Bronze Medal

2019 - Provincial Winter Games Snowshoeing, Sault Ste Marie – Gold and Silver Medals

2020 - National Winter Games Snowshoeing, Thunder Bay – Gold and Bronze Medals

2022 - World Winter Games Russia Snowshoeing (cancelled due to war)

2023 - Provincial Winter Games Snowshoeing, Huntsville – 2 Gold Medals, Silver Medal

2024 - National Winter Games Snowshoeing, Calgary, Alberta – Gold Medal, 2 Silver Medals

Provincial Summer Games Swimming, Waterloo – 2 Silver Medals

Winners of the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic Tournament

The Paris DHS basketball team participated in the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic Tournament, a nationally based, full-week format with in-school accommodations in New Waterford, Nova Scotia in early 1995. This nationally recognized, week-long tournament, which began in 1980, was created to celebrate both the history of coal mining and basketball, instilling a special pride in the community that resonated across Canada. Paris DHS was named champion of the Coal Bowl Classic, after winning the championship game over Dr. John Hugh Gillis High School from Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

• Blair Goodman set a Coal Bowl tournament record of ten 3-point baskets in a game (8 in one half). Matt Kerr captured the tournament MVP honors.
• Goodman, Kerr and Mark Sutherland were named to the tournament all-star team.
• The Panthers went on to a 3rd place finish in Brant County regular season play and had a strong showing at the 1995 CWOSAA Championships.

Team:  John Thompson, Dan Hammond, Ross Enslev (coach), Blair Goodman, Bill England, David Deveraux, Mark Sutherland, Dave MacDonald, Matt Kerr, Adam Sleeth, Jason Rupert, Bill Lord (Manager)

Brant West / Burford

• Keith and Elaine Hall (PDF)

Paris

• Bill Cracknell (PDF)
• Dennis McKinna (PDF)
• Mark Stewart (PDF)
• Linda Madden (PDF)
• Robert Perley (PDF)

South Dumfries

• Don Pancoe (PDF)

Brant West:

• Athlete - Baylea Wilkins
• Builders - Roger and Edith Davis
• Team - 1980-81 Burford Minor Hockey Bantam Team

Paris and area:

• Athlete - Robin Prine - In memory
• Athlete - Tom Verth
• Athlete - Nancy Alway
• Athlete - Robb Wilson
• Team - 2001/2002 Paris Optimist Peewee Wolfpack O.M.H.A. Provincial C Champions
• Team - 2002/2003 Paris Sibbick Fuels Bantam Wolfpack O.M.H.A. Provincial C Champions

Brant West:

• Athletes - The Burford Blue Birds Ladies Softball League

Brant Oakland Onondaga:

• Athlete - William Jamison

South Dumfries and area:

• Athlete - Jaqueline Legere
• Community Builder - In memory - Earl Gaukel

Paris and area:

• Athlete & Community Builder - In memory - Mr. Edwards Patrick (Ted) Finn
• Community Builder - Mr. Murray Powell
• Team - 1974-75 O.M.H.A. Midget "A" Champions - Paris Scott Colonels Hockey Team
• Team - 1977-78 O.M.H.A. Bantam "BB" Champions Paris Chateau Hockey Team

Paris and Area:

• Athlete - Richard (Dick) Emerson

Brant Oakland Onondaga:

• Builder - Jim Carman
• Builder - Brian Cronkwright
• Builder - Mary Welsh

• Athlete - Randy Rowe
• Team - Burford Minor Hockey OMHA Atom CC Champions 1977-78

Paris and area:

• Athlete - Derek Tiller
• Builder - Bill Leask
• Athlete - John Fazekas
• Builder - Mick Jones - In Memory

Brant Oakland Onondaga:

• Athlete - Peter Varey
• Athlete - N. Ross de St. Croix

• Athlete - Dave Shellington
• Builder - Marg Givens