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George Reed (Canadian football)

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George Reed
CM SOM
No. 34
Reed as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Born:(1939-10-02)October 2, 1939
Vicksburg, Mississippi, U.S.
Died:October 1, 2023(2023-10-01) (aged 83)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)RB
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight205 lb (93 kg)
CollegeWashington State
Career history
As administrator
1972–1981CFLPA (President)
1986–1993CFLPA (President)
As player
1963–1975Saskatchewan Roughriders
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star1965–1969, 1971–1974
CFL West All-Star1965–1969, 1971–1975
Awards1965 - CFL MOP
1976 - Tom Pate Memorial Award.- 54th Grey Cup - Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
Career stats

George Robert Reed CM SOM (October 2, 1939 – October 1, 2023) was an American college football and Canadian Football League player. Reed, along with Mike Pringle and Johnny Bright, is one of the players most often mentioned as being the greatest running back in CFL history. In November 2006, Reed was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#2) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.[1]

Reed played his entire 13-year professional football career for the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders and his #34 jersey is one of eight that has been retired by the club.

His daughter Georgette represented Canada in the 1992 Summer Olympics in the shot put competition.

College career

Reed played Pacific-8 Conference college football with the Washington State University Cougars from 1959 to 1962 where he was teamed with fellow Canadian Football Hall of Famer Hugh Campbell.[2] During his stint at Washington State, Reed broke his leg during practice prior to the 1960 Washington State Cougars season, but returned in 1961.[2]

CFL

Following college, Reed signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he started for 13 years from 1963 until 1975, 203 games in all. By the time he retired, Reed held career records in rushing yards (16,116), rushing touchdowns (134), and touchdowns (137). Reed's rushing yards total has since been surpassed by National Football League stars Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton, and, in 2004 by CFL star Mike Pringle. Pringle tied Reed's total of 137 career touchdowns, and George Reed still holds the CFL rushing for touchdowns record with 134.

George Reed was voted the CFL's Most Outstanding Player for 1965 and in 1976 he was the inaugural winner of the Tom Pate Memorial Trophy for playing ability and community service. He was the MVP of the 54th Grey Cup of 1966, as Saskatchewan defeated Ottawa, his sole Grey Cup win.

On October 7, 1973, in Regina, Saskatchewan, George Reed was honored with the unique proclamation of October 7 as George Reed Day.[3]

In 1972, while still an active player, Reed became the fourth president of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA). He maintained the CFLPA presidency until 1981, six years after his retirement from the CFL. Reed returned as the sixth president of the CFLPA from 1986 to 1993.

Career regular season rushing statistics

Year Team GP Rush Yards Y/R Lg TD
1963 Saskatchewan Roughriders 15 173 751 4.3 22 5
1964 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 185 1012 5.5 55 10
1965 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 274 1768 6.5 46 12
1966 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 266 1409 5.3 71 6
1967 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 302 1471 4.9 50 15
1968 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 268 1222 4.6 69 16
1969 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 273 1353 5.0 29 12
1970 Saskatchewan Roughriders 15 193 821 4.3 21 5
1971 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 218 1146 5.3 56 12
1972 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 224 1069 4.8 59 13
1973 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 256 1193 4.7 23 12
1974 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 288 1447 5.0 26 5
1975 Saskatchewan Roughriders 16 323 1454 4.5 22 11
CFL Totals 203 3243 16116 5.0 71 134

Source:[4]

Post-football career

A naturalized Canadian citizen who was the Director of Guest and Community Relations at SaskGaming, Reed was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978, Canada's highest civilian honour, and in 1979 was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.[5][6]

Reed was the father of Georgette Reed, who represented Canada in the women's shot put at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[7]

In 2012 in honour of the 100th Grey Cup, Canada Post used his image on a series of commemorative postage stamps. The image was also used on presentation posters and other materials to promote the Grey Cup game and other celebrations associated with the centennial.[citation needed]

In November 2019, a stretch of road along the north end of the Roughriders' current home, Mosaic Stadium, was renamed "George Reed Way" in his honour, with the stadium's official address changed to 1734 George Reed Way.[8][9] A statue of Reed, erected in 2017, stands outside the stadium.[10]

In November 9, 2022, Globe Theatre located in Regina produced a live theatre show based on George Reed's CFL life (1963 to 1975) in Regina. The play is written by Munish Sharma. [11]

George Reed died on October 1, 2023, the day before his 84th birthday.[12]

References

  1. ^ "TSN Top 50 CFL Players". TSN.ca. 2006-11-28. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  2. ^ a b Counts, Lucas (October 4, 2023). "George Reed, WSU Hall of Famer and CFL legend, passes away at 83". 247Sports. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "Saturday declared George Reed Day in Saskatchewan". paNOW. October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "George Reed football statistics on StatsCrew.com".
  5. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (2006-04-22). "The might-have-beens of George Reed". Edmonton Journal (original article appeared in Saskatoon Star-Phoenix). Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  6. ^ "Pringle chasing down George Reed". TSN.ca (original article by Canadian Press. 2004-09-03. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  7. ^ Seiberling, Irene (4 December 2012). "George Reed Foundation gala raises approximately $60,000". leaderpost.com. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Avenue near Mosaic Stadium renamed George Reed Way to honour legend". Global News. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  9. ^ "Road outside Mosaic Stadium renamed in honour of George Reed". leaderpost. Retrieved 2022-06-10.
  10. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/george-reed-ron-lancaster-roughriders-statues-mosaic-stadium-1.4273654
  11. ^ "#34". Globe Theratre. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  12. ^ "George Reed, legendary Roughriders running back, dead at 83". CBC. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
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