George Reed left a lasting impression upon the Canadian Football League.
The rugged fullback, who was one of the league鈥檚 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 CFL鈥檚 all-time leader in rushing yards (16,116) and rushing TDs (134) when he retired before training camp in 1976.
Reed鈥檚 No. 34 is one of only eight numbers ever retired by the Riders.
鈥淚t is remarkable that George played 13 years in the Canadian Football League, an eternity in professional football, particularly for a running back,鈥� CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement. 鈥淚t is notable that he played all 203 of his games for one team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, earning the CFL鈥檚 most outstanding player award in 1965.
鈥嬧�濃�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. It鈥檚 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.
鈥嬧�濃�婬is humility, kindness and devotion to community 鈥� the generosity with which he always responded to both people and causes 鈥� drew so many of us to him over the years, including thousands born long after he stopped scoring touchdowns. We鈥檒l always honour his place in Canadian football history. But George Reed鈥檚 place in our hearts is what we鈥檒l continue to cherish.鈥�
Mike Pringle (16,425 yards) has since surpassed Reed as the CFL鈥檚 career rushing leader but Reed remains second overall. Reed鈥檚 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.
鈥淚t was my dad鈥檚 immense honour to be part of the Saskatchewan community and to call it home for so many years,鈥� Reed鈥檚 daughter, Georgette, said in a statement. 鈥淪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.
鈥淧laying for the Roughriders was one of my dad鈥檚 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 dad鈥檚 legacy will live on in the hearts of Rider Nation, as well as our own. We will all miss him so very much.鈥�
Riders president/CEO Craig Reynolds called Reed 鈥渁 giant in life.鈥�
鈥淕eorge Reed was a giant in life, not only for the Roughriders, but in the Saskatchewan community and across the entire CFL,鈥� Reynolds said. 鈥淗is strength and tenacity on the field was matched only by his compassion and dedication off of it.
鈥淕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.鈥�
Added Jeremy O鈥橠ay, the Riders鈥� vice-president of football operations: 鈥淚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.鈥�
Reed, a native of Vicksburg, Miss., was named the CFL鈥檚 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 Players鈥� 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 Players鈥� Association. It鈥檚 a position he鈥檇 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, Canada鈥檚 Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Plaza of Honour in 1987.
Reed returned for a second stint atop the union (1986-93).
鈥淎long with his impact on the field, George was one of the greatest people to ever grace this league with his presence,鈥� the B.C. Lions tweeted. 鈥淗is impact will not be forgotten.
鈥淥ur thoughts are with his daughter Georgette and their entire family.鈥�
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 CFL鈥檚 Top-50 players list in a poll conducted by TSN.
What鈥檚 more, Georgette Reed represented Canada at the 1992 Summer Olympics in the women鈥檚 shot put.
Reed was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978, the country鈥檚 highest civilian honour. In 2012, Canada Post used Reed鈥檚 image in a series of commemorative postage stamps to pay tribute to the 100th Grey Cup game.
Reed鈥檚 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 Riders鈥� longtime quarterback. In November 2019, a stretch of road along the north end of Mosaic Stadium 鈥� the Riders鈥� home field 鈥� was renamed 鈥淕eorge Reed Way.鈥� The stadium鈥檚 official address changed to 1734 George Reed Way.
Reed was also one of Special Olympics Canada鈥檚 first-ever celebrity ambassadors.
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