You knew it was only a matter of time before Howard Kelsey got into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and today was the day.

But you might have been saying it's been long overdue for the past 20 years were you so inclined.

Now over 50 and still playing a lot of pickup basketball as his two scoped knees can attest these days as he recovers, Kelsey was a tremendous player back when the national basketball team was at it's zenith back in 1984 Olympics. That team which featured the likes of Jay Triano, Greg Wiltjer, Gerald Kazanowski, and others got to within six points of the bronze medal that year, losing to Yugoslavia which was led by former NBA stars Vlade Divac and the late Drazen Petrovic.

That was probably the pinnacle of his playing career but it all started at Point Grey high school where he was B.C. boys basketball tournament MVP before heading on to a two year stint at Oklahoma State and then Principia (Illinois) College where he was the third leading scorer in the NCAA small college play and the conference MVP.

“I guess the other career highlight was at the World University Games in 1983 when we won the gold medal,” says Kelsey, harkening back to the days when he could play without most everything hurting the following morning. “Everyone thought we beat the U.S. in the final but it was in the semis where we beat them. Remember the university games were different back then. In those days all the nations brought their Olympic teams, so to win it at that time was unprecedented.”

There is a somewhat famous picture with Kelsey on the podium leaning down to show Charles Barkley the gold bling hanging from his chest, the latter examining it with due respect.”

He went to Mexico to play professional ball and was eventually voted as one of his franchise's all-time top players and then later, after doing his thing at the University of Victoria, he became an entrepreneur of sorts in a produce and sports venture as a shareholder of one of Mexico's top soccer franchises. That 'thing' at Uvic was becoming assistant athletic director for seven years when Ken Shields was the director and coaching their hoop team which won seven consecutive men's and six consecutive women's national titles.

Since returning from Mexico permanently he has spent much of his time doing charitable work, founding along with his brother Doug, Ron Putzi, Lars Hansen, Misty Thomas and the late Randy Sung, what is now the Canada One foundation which runs the TELUS high school basketball classic and helps the B.C. High School championships with sponsorships. The foundation also puts on KitsFest in the summer where volleyball, ball hockey and of course basketball are all part of the festivities.

“That's probably what I'm most proud of given we've raised over $1.2 million for basketball in the city and presented nearly 400 scholarships now for kids furthering their education,” says Kelsey, who along with Putzi, Hansen and Thomas have done much of the work in keeping these events alive and thriving.

He also forgot to mention that several other cities across the country have taken up the TELUS tournament concept and are running extremely similar events themselves, although none have yet reached the level of participation this one achieves with literally thousands of kids involved in some way or another.

Now he is also vice-president of Canada Basketball and again working in some small way at least for the team to which he gave so much to as a player, that being the men's national team which is set for something of a renaissance if they are ever able to attract some of the great young players the country is beginning to develop. If somehow Canada was able to get it's act back together in time to get a team back into the 2016 Olympics and performing well with Kelsey involved in some way, he would have achieved a circle of contribution of which few can dream.

There's a long way to go on that account of course and bringing the NBA back to Vancouver for good is another goal to which Kelsey love to be able to contribute. But you like his chances on both counts ultimately, as zeal and energy have never been and never will be a problem for this guy.