George Robert Reed, CM, SOM (born October 2, 1939), is a former 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 CFLSaskatchewan 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.
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.
CFL[]
Following college, Reed signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders where he starred 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.
On October 9, 1973, in Regina, Saskatchewan, George Reed was honored with the unique proclamation of October 9 as George Reed Day.
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.
Post-football career[]
A naturalized Canadian citizen who is currently 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.[2][3]
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.
^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.
