George Reed left a lasting impression upon the Canadian Football League.
The rugged fullback, who was one of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 most dominant rushers, died Sunday, a day before his 84th birthday. The Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team Reed spent his entire CFL career with, confirmed his passing.
The six-foot, 205-pound Reed was with the Riders from 1963 until 1975. Reed was the CFLB次元官网网址檚 all-time leader in rushing yards (16,116) and rushing TDs (134) when he retired before training camp in 1976.
ReedB次元官网网址檚 No. 34 is one of only eight numbers ever retired by the Riders.
B次元官网网址淚t is remarkable that George played 13 years in the Canadian Football League, an eternity in professional football, particularly for a running back,B次元官网网址� CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. B次元官网网址淚t is notable that he played all 203 of his games for one team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, earning the CFLB次元官网网址檚 most outstanding player award in 1965.
B次元官网网址婤次元官网网址滲次元官网网址婤ut what truly speaks to the greatness of George Reed is the hold he has continued to have on so many of us, long after he stopped playing the game he loved. ItB次元官网网址檚 a hold on our hearts, which has endured year after year, decade after decade, and even generation after generation. It has had such tremendous staying power because it had far more to do with George Reed the person, than George Reed the football player.
B次元官网网址婤次元官网网址滲次元官网网址婬is humility, kindness and devotion to community B次元官网网址� the generosity with which he always responded to both people and causes B次元官网网址� drew so many of us to him over the years, including thousands born long after he stopped scoring touchdowns. WeB次元官网网址檒l always honour his place in Canadian football history. But George ReedB次元官网网址檚 place in our hearts is what weB次元官网网址檒l continue to cherish.B次元官网网址�
Mike Pringle (16,425 yards) has since surpassed Reed as the CFLB次元官网网址檚 career rushing leader but Reed remains second overall. ReedB次元官网网址檚 career rushing TD record still stands.
Reed led the CFL in rushing from 1965 through 1969 and again in 1974. In all, he ran for 1,000 or more yards 11 times over his brilliant CFL career.
B次元官网网址淚t was my dadB次元官网网址檚 immense honour to be part of the Saskatchewan community and to call it home for so many years,B次元官网网址� ReedB次元官网网址檚 daughter, Georgette, said in a statement. B次元官网网址淪ixty years ago, he received an offer to move to Regina to play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and in accepting that offer it changed our lives for the better.
B次元官网网址淧laying for the Roughriders was one of my dadB次元官网网址檚 greatest joys and we will never forget the love he and our entire family received from the people here until the very end. I know my dadB次元官网网址檚 legacy will live on in the hearts of Rider Nation, as well as our own. We will all miss him so very much.B次元官网网址�
Riders president/CEO Craig Reynolds called Reed B次元官网网址渁 giant in life.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淕eorge Reed was a giant in life, not only for the Roughriders, but in the Saskatchewan community and across the entire CFL,B次元官网网址� Reynolds said. B次元官网网址淗is strength and tenacity on the field was matched only by his compassion and dedication off of it.
B次元官网网址淕eorge made our province and the CFL a better place and I know I speak on behalf of all of Rider Nation when I say we will miss him deeply. It was an honour to have him in our life.B次元官网网址�
Added Jeremy OB次元官网网址橠ay, the RidersB次元官网网址� vice-president of football operations: B次元官网网址淚n George Reed, the Roughriders had a legend in its midst, a role model and an example of what it meant to be a true professional. To be able to spend time with George throughout my time in Saskatchewan was a blessing and provided me, as well as our staff, players and coaches a great source of inspiration. There will never be another Number 34.B次元官网网址�
Reed, a native of Vicksburg, Miss., was named the CFLB次元官网网址檚 outstanding player in 1965 after rushing for a career-high 1,768 yards (6.5-yard average) with 12 TDs.
Reed was the MVP of the 1966 Grey Cup as Saskatchewan upset the Ottawa Rough Riders 16-6 for its first-ever CFL title, rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown. In 1976, Reed was named the inaugural winner of the Tom Pate Memorial Trophy for outstanding community service.
The honour, presented by the CFL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association, was named after Pate, an American rookie linebacker with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats who was critically injured during a game in 1975 against the Calgary Stampeders. Pate, 23, never regained consciousness and died three days later.
In 1972 while still an active player, Reed became the fourth president of the CFL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association. ItB次元官网网址檚 a position heB次元官网网址檇 hold until 1981, some six years after retiring. Reed was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
He was also enshrined into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1979, the State of Washington Hall of Fame in 1983, CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Plaza of Honour in 1987.
Reed returned for a second stint atop the union (1986-93).
B次元官网网址淎long with his impact on the field, George was one of the greatest people to ever grace this league with his presence,B次元官网网址� the B.C. Lions tweeted. B次元官网网址淗is impact will not be forgotten.
B次元官网网址淥ur thoughts are with his daughter Georgette and their entire family.B次元官网网址�
Reed played collegiately with the Washington State Cougars (1959-62), where he was teammates with receiver Hugh Campbell, a future Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee. The two would go on to play together in the CFL with Saskatchewan.
In 2006, Reed was ranked No. 2 in the CFLB次元官网网址檚 Top-50 players list in a poll conducted by TSN.
WhatB次元官网网址檚 more, Georgette Reed represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the womenB次元官网网址檚 shot put.
Reed was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978, the countryB次元官网网址檚 highest civilian honour. In 2012, Canada Post used ReedB次元官网网址檚 image in a series of commemorative postage stamps to pay tribute to the 100th Grey Cup game.
ReedB次元官网网址檚 image was also used on presentation posters and other materials to promote the contest and other celebrations associated with the centennial.
In 2017, the Roughriders erected a statue of Reed and teammate Ron Lancaster, the RidersB次元官网网址� longtime quarterback. In November 2019, a stretch of road along the north end of Mosaic Stadium B次元官网网址� the RidersB次元官网网址� home field B次元官网网址� was renamed B次元官网网址淕eorge Reed Way.B次元官网网址� The stadiumB次元官网网址檚 official address changed to 1734 George Reed Way.
Reed was also one of Special Olympics CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first-ever celebrity ambassadors.
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