NAPANEE — It was "Leroy Blugh Day" on May 14, and the Canadian football legend was on hand to receive the love and appreciation of his hometown.

Blugh was greeted by more than 200 Napanee residents at a special gathering on Thursday afternoon to mark his professional achievements, and his impact on the town of Napanee.

Greater Napanee Mayor Schermerhorn presented Blugh with a plaque, "in recognition of your success, by your home town."

"In 2009, town staff worked quietly on a new concept to recognize local residents who went above and beyond making an impact on our community, by bringing positive attention to our community from their national or international contributions," Schermerhorn said. "At that time, staff had approached council with two names that they felt should be honoured in a special way."

In 2011, Avril Lavigne was given the first spot on the Napanee Wall of Fame. Blugh is the second to receive the honour.

Schermerhorn and Blugh unveiled the Wall of Fame display together. It features jerseys from the various teams Blugh played with, photographs, and other pieces of memorabilia from his career, and will be installed in the Strathcona Paper Centre.

"Although this display has captured a snapshot of the stops through your high school, varsity and professional football career, that is not why all of these people have come here today," said Schermerhorn during the official presentation. "We gather today on this, ‘Leroy Blugh Day’, because of the positive influence you have made in this community and the positive recognition you have brought to your hometown on a national scale. No matter whom staff contacted from your career stops, every organization was pleased to offer their help to make this day a success, and each contact had something very positive to say about the man."

Representatives from Queen’s University and Bishop’s University attended the ceremony to say some words about Blugh, who coached at both schools for a time and who played varsity football at Bishop’s University from 1985 to ’88.

Ian Breck from Bishop’s University told the story of Blugh’s recruitment to the university’s football program — "I spelled his name ‘Blue’," he recalled. "My immediate reaction was, ‘I blew this.’"

"Four years later, Leroy had started for four years, had been a three-time all Canadian, had won a President’s Trophy as outstanding defensive player in Canada, and graduated on time," Breck said.

"I can’t say that I was cheering for Leroy at Bishop’s, playing against us all those years, but I certainly was an admirer of him," said Pat Sheahan, head coach of the Queen’s Golden Gaels.

"He certainly established a level of excellence that is probably yet to be paralleled."

It was also Blugh’s birthday on Thursday, May 14, and he was all smiles as the audience sang "happy birthday" to him and a surprise birthday cake was wheeled out. He was visibly touched by the community’s kind words and gesture for him, and spoke about how important Napanee has remained to him.

"I want to thank you again for being here to celebrate this day with me. I’m extremely grateful, proud and humbled."

Blugh thanked his family, friends, the town of Napanee and local businesses.

He paid tribute to a number of friends who had passed away: "Terry Gray, Jim Madden, Andy McGarvey. I know you’re all watching and I know you’re proud."

He acknowledged his mother and her vital role in his life, saying that she had "been there for me through the good and the bad; she’s made countless sacrifices so I could thrive. Even through poor health she’s always been there, strong and proud."

Blugh’s humility shone through in his statements to the friends, family and local admirers who gathered on Thursday.

"I’m truly blessed to have the love and support from all my friends," he said. "Each and every one of you, whether you realize it or not, have kept me grounded and have influenced my life in a positive way. I did not and could not have aspired to great things, achieved my dreams and goals, without your love and support from childhood to today.

"Although this day is being held in recognition of my accomplishments, it is also a day of celebration for everyone that has played a role in my development as a person, as well as an athlete."

Blugh spoke about the role that his hometown played through one of the darkest periods of his life.

"I am very proud to call Napanee my home," he said. "During my fight with cancer, I had chemotherapy treatments every two weeks for six months. I would sit in the chair for six hours while the nurses administered the drugs. I had a lot of time to think. It was an experience I hope to never endure again. I found strength in thinking about my family, my friends, and of someday returning home. Every day, that’s what got me through. That is what Napanee means to me. I love this town, I love the people. Thank you all for celebrating this day with me."

Blugh has returned to Napanee on a number of occasions to give some coaching to local high school football players. On the day of his Wall of Fame induction, he spent a couple of hours with local elementary students, teaching them some football basics.

I’ve had so much support in this community, it’s the least that I can do to come back and give back a little bit and help out. The legacy I want to leave behind as a coach is that I helped as many young people to go out and to experience team sports, and hopefully aspire to great things. So I really enjoy coming back and working with kids. I didn’t make it to the CFL on my own. I had lots of people that influenced me and pushed me along the way. That’s the legacy I want to leave."

Blugh said that he never imagined he would end up in a position of honour in his community because of his love for and success in football.

"I played the game, I tried to be the hammer and not the nail," he said. "I played for the respect of my opponents, my players and my coaches. Today I see the respect from my community, it’s fantastic."

meghan.balogh@sunmedia.ca