Legendary Riders fullback George Reed
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files
REGINA — Nearly 35 years after George Reed last played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the legendary fullback can still find a hole.
That will be evident on June 28, when the inaugural George Reed Golf Tournament — benefiting Special Olympics Saskatchewan — is to be held at the Wascana Country Club.
The announcement of the event was made Tuesday morning at the Casino Regina Show Lounge. It was a logical venue, considering that Reed is a corporate event host for Casino Regina. After accepting that position, he moved back to Regina early in 2009, having resided in Calgary for the previous 25 years.
The announcement of the event was made Tuesday morning at the Casino Regina Show Lounge. It was a logical venue, considering that Reed is a corporate event host for Casino Regina. After accepting that position, he moved back to Regina early in 2009, having resided in Calgary for the previous 25 years.
Tuesday's media conference was just one more reminder of how blessed we are to have No. 34 back in this community.
This is a man who, in his heyday with the Roughriders, was involved with 47 community or charitable organizations — at the same time!
Reed's various good works were the primary reason why he became a member of the Order of Canada in 1978. Football brought him fame but, instead of basking in his celebrity, he used it to enrich the lives of others.
Special Olympics is but one of myriad examples. In the late 1960s, Reed was among the founding members of Special Olympics Saskatchewan. More than 40 years later, he still lends his good name to the cause, picking up where he left off a quarter-century ago.
"If you ever want to see a group of athletes who want to go out there and compete, I suggest you watch a Special Olympics event,'' said Reed, 70. "It's sport at its best.''
This comes from someone who played Canadian professional football at the highest level, rushing for 16,116 yards and scoring 137 touchdowns during 13 superlative seasons with the Roughriders. A giant image of Reed appears on the west side of Mosaic Stadium, to the left of a similar photographic portrayal of Ron Lancaster.
The Little General left us, all too soon, on Sept. 18, 2008. Within a few months, it was announced that Reed would be moving back to Saskatchewan. Such news would be celebrated at any time, but it was an especially welcome development so soon after Lancaster's death.
Now that Reed walks among us every day, there are countless opportunities to appreciate Roughriders royalty. Reed and his wife, Angie, are once again immersing themselves in the community.
Now that Reed walks among us every day, there are countless opportunities to appreciate Roughriders royalty. Reed and his wife, Angie, are once again immersing themselves in the community.
Although this modest gentleman is not one to invite accolades, they keep coming. One week ago, for example, Reed was presented with the Distinguished Canadian Award from the Seniors Education Centre and Seniors University Group at the University of Regina. Reed was the first athlete to receive the award. The list of 25 previous recipients included Allan Blakeney, Roy Romanow, Adrienne Clarkson, June Callwood and Dr. David Suzuki.
Many of the people who continue to honour or flock toward Reed never had the privilege of seeing him play. You have to be in your 40s to have any vivid recollection of Reed carrying the football for the Roughriders. That is immaterial to younger fans, who customarily surround him. They have heard all about him, or read about his exploits. Much like younger hockey fans are drawn to Gordie Howe, Reed is a magnet for the public.
"It's amazing,'' Roughriders president-CEO Jim Hopson, a former teammate of Reed's, marvelled at Tuesday's gathering. "I knew when he came back that he was going to be well-received and that he'd be popular, but I get surprised sometimes at the depth of feeling for George. We've seen it everywhere.
"Last year in Yorkton, (Roughriders offensive lineman) Gene Makowsky and I had done some autographs and some pictures. We're standing off to the side and we look and there's George signing autographs. The line literally goes through the room and into the hallway. I said, 'Geno, so you think we're a big deal?' He said, 'No, no. George is a big deal,' and it's true. Everywhere we go, George is invariably the one they want to get the picture with and talk to. I've seen him exhausted sometimes, too, because he'll stand for hours, signing autographs and (posing) for pictures.''
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