George Reed Way unveiled at Evraz Place

Saskatchewan Roughriders legend George Reed is getting another honour in his adopted hometown.

The CFL’s Roughriders, the City of Regina and the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) announced Wednesday that the section of 10th Avenue that runs west from Elphinstone Street to Gate 2 on the north side of the stadium is being renamed George Reed Way.

Reed rushed for 16,116 yards and 134 touchdowns during his career with Saskatchewan. He was named the CFL’s most outstanding player in 1965, helped the Roughriders win the 1966 Grey Cup title and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

“It has been my pleasure to be a part of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and, as we continue to move forward, I continue to support the Roughriders because of the work that they do and helping throughout the province,” Reed said during a media event at the stadium.

Reed reminisced of when he first arrived in Regina to play at the old stadium.

“We used to dress over here in the stadium and it was the worst-looking facilities that I had ever seen,” Reed said, eliciting laughter from the crowd. “It had two pot-belly stoves, three bulbs hanging down from the ceiling and I said to myself, ‘What the hell am I getting into?’

“In about (1965) they remodeled it. We thought we were in a palace then and now they’re really in a palace.”

As well as renaming the street, the new address of Mosaic Stadium will be 1734 George Reed Way. Reed wore No. 34 during his illustrious 13-year career with the Roughriders.

“George means so much to the club, he means so much to the community and he means so much to the province so you constantly look at ways to honour all of our alumni, especially George,” Roughriders president and CEO Craig Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the plan to have the street renamed after Reed has been in the process for a few years now.

“We started thinking about it when we knew the location of the new stadium and (thought) ‘Wouldn’t that be neat if it was named after one of our all-time greats?’ ” Reynolds said.

According to a media release, the Roughriders approached the City of Regina and REAL several months ago with the idea of renaming that stretch of road in Reed’s honour. Both agreed with the plan.

“As the owner of Mosaic Stadium, the City recognizes and appreciates the legacy that the Roughriders and Mr. Reed have created,” Mayor Michael Fougere said in the release.

“Every time a minor sport athlete travels George Reed Way to play or watch a game at the stadium they will be reminded that greatness is within their grasp. That is a powerful message for young people in our community.”

“George Reed Way is a fantastic addition to our property, and we are extremely proud that residents and visitors will experience a piece of our province’s rich football tradition each time they come to our campus,” added Tim Reid, REAL’s president and CEO.

Reed’s jersey number is one of eight that has been retired by the Roughriders. In 2017, he and the late Ron Lancaster — a former Roughriders quarterback who starred alongside Reed — were further honoured with statues on the west side of Mosaic Stadium.

Now 80, Reed has been a fixture in Regina and Saskatchewan since his retirement.

He created the George Reed Foundation to assist the physically and intellectually disabled and the disadvantaged. He also is a long-time supporter of Saskatchewan Special Olympics.

A product of Vicksburg, Miss., Reed was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1978.

Steve Mazurak played with Reed from 1973 through ’75 and also worked with Reed in various capacities following their football careers. He said he knew Reed would one day have a street named after him in the Queen City.

“To be able to share a huddle with that man and, in my case, to be able to share an office with that man as my boss with the players’ association (it’s) all very, very special for sure,” Mazurak said.

Mazurak said one of the reasons Reed was so special was that he was one of the players who came to Saskatchewan and stayed even after his football career was over.

“You would never ever find anyone anywhere to say a negative word about George. He always stopped, he always signed an autograph and so he was one of those very, very special people that gave his all in every respect of the word,” Mazurak said.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Britton Gray