Hon. Denise Batters: Honourable senators, I rise today to pay tribute to a true legend — George Reed. This Canadian Football League great passed away Sunday in Regina, one day shy of his eighty-fourth birthday. George Reed was beloved throughout Saskatchewan and Rider Nation, which extends across Canada and far beyond. Reed excelled in his 13 years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, tearing up the field with 16,116 rushing yards and 137 touchdowns. George Reed and his perennial and also legendary on-field partner — quarterback Ron Lancaster — led the Roughriders to their first Grey Cup championship in 1966, and made the Green Machine a top-level team for the next decade.

In 1973, George Reed became pro football’s all-time leading rusher, passing Jim Brown’s record in the NFL — and achieved all of this despite constant and often major injuries. During one season, he played six games with a broken leg. He embodied “Saskatchewan tough.”

George Reed was also a strong leader for all CFL players off the field, serving a long and accomplished tenure as president of the CFL Players Association. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and their devoted Rider Nation were quick to honour George Reed after his retirement in 1976. That fall, Reed’s iconic number 34 was retired. He was inducted into the SaskTel Plaza of Honour in its very first year of existence. When our beautiful new Mosaic Stadium was built, bronze statues of George Reed and Ron Lancaster were installed there — Ronnie and George, together again.

Reed attained his rightful place of prominence in CFL excellence in a 2006 TSN poll where he was named the CFL’s second-greatest player of all time; Doug Flutie was named number one. After his outstanding football career, Reed used his fame for significant charitable causes, like his George Reed Foundation to assist persons with disabilities and the key role he played in the formation of Special Olympics Saskatchewan.

Even with all the deserving accolades Reed received, he remained humble — yet his legendary status could not be denied. Whenever I had the privilege of seeing him around Regina, the last time being this summer, it always made me catch my breath for a second and say excitedly, “There is George Reed!” He continued to attend Roughrider home games, including several this season, and every time they showed George on the giant screen, he’d receive a long and sustained ovation — no matter what the score was.

It is fitting that the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ annual Legends Night game is this weekend, and George Reed will be honoured there — the legend among legends. Sincere condolences to his family, his many friends and his legions of fans. Rider Nation will love George Reed forever. Thank you.