George Reed (Canadian football)

George Robert Reed Template:Postnominals (October 2, 1939 – October 1, 2023) was an American college football and Canadian Football League (CFL) 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 the second greatest CFL player ever in CFL's Top 50 players of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.

Reed played his entire 13-year professional football career for the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders and his No. 34 jersey is one of eight that has been retired by the club.

Early life and college

Born on October 2, 1939, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, George Reed Jr. was the third of twelve children of Maggie and George Reed Sr. to grow up in Seattle, where his father began working in a steel factory during the Second World War.<ref name="Race to Touchdown">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After high school, 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.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During his stint at Washington State, Reed broke his leg during practice prior to the 1960 Washington State Cougars season, but returned in 1961.<ref name=":1" />

Professional football

Following college, Reed signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he started for 13 years from 1963 until 1975, playing 203 games.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":5" /> By the time he retired, Reed held career records in rushing yards (16,116), rushing touchdowns (134), and touchdowns (137).<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Reed's rushing yards total has since been surpassed by National Football League stars Walter Payton, then Emmitt Smith, and also by CFL star Mike Pringle.<ref name=":4" /> Reed is also tied with Pringle with a total of 137 career touchdowns.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a record which was later broken by Milt Stegall,<ref name="Race to Touchdown"/> George Reed still holds the CFL rushing for touchdowns record at 134.<ref name=":2" />

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.<ref name="CJME20231001">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was the MVP of the 54th Grey Cup of 1966, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Ottawa Rough Riders, his sole Grey Cup win.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When he became the CFL's all-time leading rusher in 1973, he was honored with the unique proclamation of October 7 as George Reed Day in Regina, Saskatchewan.<ref name="George Reed Day">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After his retirement from playing before the 1976 season,<ref name=":3" /> his No. 34 jersey was retired by the Roughriders on October 24, 1976.<ref name="CJME20231001"/>

In 1972, while still an active player, Reed became the fourth president of the Canadian Football League Players' Association (CFLPA).<ref name=":5">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was the CFLPA's first American and first black president.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":5" />

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	16,116	5.0	71	134
Source:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation								CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Later life

Reed remained in Saskatchewan after he retired from playing football and for decades was active in the local community with various charities and organizations.<ref name="George Reed Day" /> A naturalized Canadian citizen who was the Director of Guest and Community Relations at SaskGaming,Template:Cn Reed was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Canada's highest civilian honour, and in 1979 was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.<ref name="The">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Pringle chasing down George Reed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reed's daughter, Georgette Reed, represented Canada in the women's shot put competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="SportsRef">Template:Cite Sports-Reference</ref>

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.<ref name=":5" />

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A statue of Reed, erected in September 2017, stands outside the stadium.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Artist Gary Tillery sculpted the bronze statue.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Reed died on October 1, 2023, one day before his 84th birthday.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Shortly afterwards, fifty years after he became the CFL's all-time leading rusher, he was once again honored in Saskatchewan with the proclamation of October 7 as George Reed Day.<ref name="George Reed Day"/>

On November 17, 2023, the CFL announced that the top award for players in the league would be renamed "The George Reed Most Outstanding Player Award" in Reed's honour.

External links

• George Robert Reed at The Canadian Encyclopedia