REMEMBERING GEORGE REED
“I came. I played. I stayed.”
- George Reed
It is with great sadness and broken hearts that the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club, Rider Nation and the entire province mourn the passing of one of its greatest players of all time, George Reed.
A special man - a true legend - gone but never forgotten. Heartfelt sympathy to George's wife Angie, his son Keith, daughter Gorgette, and everyone who had the privilege of calling George their friend.
A beautiful tribute by Rob Vanstone
Rob Vanstone: George Reed Rushed for 16,116 yards - And went the extra mile
George Reed was the rare person who could elicit a spontaneous standing ovation by simply, unobtrusively walking into a room.
I saw it happen, multiple times, and it was as amazing as the man himself.
George always looked surprised, bordering on embarrassed, by the attention and adulation he did not court but routinely received.
Not for a moment, in all the time we were blessed to know him, did the Saskatchewan Roughriders icon perceive himself to be a big deal — which, of course, he was.
Over a remarkable life that spanned 84 years, less a day, he was recognized and revered to an extent that few people can imagine, let alone handle.
A mere enumeration of all the awards, achievements and accolades, in one voluminous file, could slow down the Internet.
This is someone, remember, who in 1978 received our country’s highest civilian honour — the Order of Canada.
And - get this - he was recognized in that manner for reasons that didn’t have anything to do with football, and that had everything to do with his tireless contributions to charities and the community.
Some of the initiatives were well-known, but he always found time (how, I have no idea) to help out with, say, the Massey School Home and School Association.
First and foremost, he was a proud husband (to Angie), father (to Keith, Vicki and Georgette) and friend (to everyone from Ron Lancaster to a starstruck fan).
It was like interacting with royalty and, as many times as it was my privilege to be around him, that little voice inside my head never stopped spluttering, “That’s George Reed!”
It started in the summer of 1972, when I was eight years old and No. 34 was in his 10th season as a Roughrider.
I was attending the Hicke Brothers Hockey School. Before the first session, I toted my porous goaltending equipment into the lobby of the Kinsmen Arena and saw (gasp!) George Reed, sitting inside the office.
Just like that, anything pertaining to hockey - ostensibly the reason for my presence - was unimportant.
After all, I was just a few feet away from GEORGE REED!
“Go up to him and get an autograph,” Mom said, as I hesitated. “Go on!”
Tentatively, I made my way toward the office and was greeted with a robust “Hi buddy!” He instantly put me at ease.
More than a half-century has elapsed since my goals-against average approached the century mark, but I still have a vivid recollection of that first encounter with the greatest fullback ever.
Sadly, other “where were you when …?” moments also come flooding back, with precision.
Read the entire article here: Rob Vanstone: George Reed rushed for 16,116 yards — and went the extra mile - Saskatchewan Roughriders (riderville.com)
WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.
I hope this Thanksgiving finds you with plenty of reasons to be thankful. Enjoy family and friends and take a few moments to give thanks to everyone who has sacrificed to make our world a better place. Appreciation can change the moment, the day or even change a life! This is a special weekend to celebrate peace while reflecting on how fortunate we are to live in Saskatchewan.
This Thanksgiving weekend in Saskatchewan, we are grateful that most farmers have their crops in the bin. We wish those that haven't completed harvest good weather. Agriculture has always been and continues to be one of the key drivers of economic growth in Saskatchewan.
