‘He lit up our organization’: Roughriders to honour late running back George Reed

Craig Reynolds remembers George Reed as a man who could simply command a room. 

“The word legend gets thrown around a lot, but that’s exactly what George was,” said Reynolds, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. “He was an absolute living legend. 

Article content

“I’ve never seen an individual who walks into a room and every eye just turns toward George. He just lit up a room … He lit up our organization when he showed up.” 

Article content

After the death of Reed — the legendary Roughriders running back — on Sunday at the age of 83, Reynolds along with Reed’s former teammate Steve Mazurak, spoke with the media on Monday to honour the man who wore #34. 

“I was really fortunate to know George on a number of different levels,” said Mazurak, who played with Reed from 1973-75. “Being in the huddle with George and seeing all those times when the whole world knew he was going to get the ball. 

“Over and over and over again.” 

Reed played for the Riders from 1963 to 1975, racking up 16,116 rushing yards in the process, as he ended his career as the CFL’s all-time rushing yards leader. And while he played a large role in the Riders winning the 1966 Grey Cup, his work in the community over the years only increased his legendary status in Saskatchewan. 

“He just was tireless,” said Reynolds. “The number of charitable organizations he was at one point involved with is unprecedented. 

“Nobody in the history of the Roughriders has been that involved in the community.” 

Reed also served as the president of the CFL Players’ Association for 13 years. During that time, he hired Mazurak to be the CFLPA’s first executive director. 

Article content

And Mazurak recalls many boardroom meetings and the respect shown to George when he would simply enter the room and proceed to sit across from various owners of CFL teams during that time. 

“It wasn’t so much as what George said but what he garnered as far as respect,” said Mazurak.

The Riders are now paying their respects to not only the greatest running back in team history, but a player who helped build ‘Rider Nation’ into what it is today. 

“I think he’s one of the most influential figures in the history of the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” said Reynolds. “And I think it’s because he inspired a generation to be football fans and be Roughrider fans.” 

Along with numerous tributes throughout the week, the Riders will be honouring Reed on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium during Saskatchewan’s home game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5 p.m., TSN). 

The game has already been dubbed “Legends Night” — as the Riders will also be recognizing the Class of 2023 entering the Plaza of Honour, which includes the 2013 Grey Cup championship team alongside builder Wendy Kelly — but Reynolds, along with the rest of the organization, are now planning a special tribute for Reed during the game as well. 

“It’s really important for us to honour George in a very meaningful way,” said Reynolds. 

tshire@postmedia.com

Article content