Saskatchewan Roughriders great George Reed passed away Sunday, prompting tributes from family and the Canadian Football League. He died a day short of his 84th birthday..Reed was born in Vicksburg, MS and played football for the Washington State Cougars from 1959-62 where future Roughrider Hugh Campbell was his teammate..Reed played for the Roughriders from 1963 to 1975 and retired as the game’s all-time leading rusher with 16,116 rushing yards and 134 career rushing touchdowns. The latter record still stands..On November 26, 1966, his 133 yards rushing and one touchdown helped the team to its first ever Grey Cup championship, a 29-14 victory over Ottawa. He played 203 games for the Roughriders before they retired his number 34 on October 24, 1976. .Reed registered a CFL-record 11 seasons of 1,000-plus-yards during his career. He was a nine-time CFL All-Star and a ten-time West all-star. In 1965, Reed won a Schenley Award for Most Outstanding CFL Player, having run for a franchise-record 1,768 yards. Reed was the West’s Most Outstanding Player in 1968 and 1969. He played in five consecutive all-star games from 1970-1974. Reed helped establish the CFL Players’ Association and sat as its president from 1972 to 1981..CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said Reed stood out in ways numbers could never tell..“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."."It’s 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,” Ambrosie said..“His humility, kindness and devotion to community, the generosity with which he always responded to both people and causes, drew so many of us to him over the years, including thousands born long after he stopped scoring touchdowns. We’ll always honour his place in Canadian football history. But George Reed’s place in our hearts is what we’ll continue to cherish.”.Reed received many accolades after his retirement. He won the Tom Pate Memorial Award for outstanding sportsmanship, a contribution to his team, his community, and to the CFL Players’ Association in 1976..In 1978, he received the Order of Canada. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979, the State of Washington Hall of Fame in 1983, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Roughriders’ Plaza of Honour in 1987. He was named the second-greatest player in CFL history by TSN in 2007..In 2017, the Roughriders erected a statue of the 6’2” 205 lb running back and teammate Ron Lancaster outside of Mosaic Stadium. In 2019 the name of the street along Mosaic Stadium was renamed George Reed Way..In 1975, Reed established the George Reed Foundation and spent nearly 50 years volunteering and giving back in the areas of education, continuous learning, healthy living as well as with individuals with disabilities..The Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation and George Reed Foundation recently joined together to create the George Reed Legacy Fund. This fund will ensure continued support for the causes that mean the most to Reed for years to come: Special Olympics Saskatchewan and Mother Teresa Middle School..Donations can be made at Riderville.com. More plans to honour Reed’s legacy will be announced in the coming days..Daughter Georgette Reed, who represented Canada in the 1992 Summer Olympics in shotput, said her dad loved playing for the Roughriders..“It was my dad’s immense honour to be part of the Saskatchewan community and to call it home for so many years. Sixty 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,” she said..“Playing for the Roughriders was one of my dad’s 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 dad’s legacy will live on in the hearts of Rider Nation, as well as our own. We will all miss him so very much.”.Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds also paid tribute..“George Reed was a giant in life, not only for the Roughriders, but in the Saskatchewan community and across the entire CFL. His strength and tenacity on the field was matched only by his compassion and dedication off of it. George 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,” said Reynolds..Roughriders vice-president of football operations Jeremy O’Day added his own kind words..“In 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,” said O’Day.
