Life of George Reed takes shape in Globe Theatre play

George Reed made countless plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Now his life is being portrayed in a different kind of play.

‘#34’ will be performed at Regina’s Darke Hall from Wednesday through Nov. 27. The play by Munish Sharma will take a look at the 84-year-old running back’s life, his career with the CFL’s Roughriders, and the work he has done in the community.

“I really didn’t believe it. I guess my daughter kept pushing it and it happened,” Reed told the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Wednesday.

Reed was able to spend some time with the cast ahead of the play’s opening night Wednesday.

“It was nice just sitting there talking to the cast and everything. They were always so nice. That was the important thing to me, just shaking my hands with them and saying hello to them and thanking them,” Reed said.

The Vicksburg, Miss., product became a CFL legend after he came from Washington State University to join the Riders in 1963.

His Hall of Fame career saw him rush for 16,116 yards — second all-time in CFL history — and 71 touchdowns. He was a CFL all-star nine times in his career, was the 1965 CFL most outstanding player, and helped the Riders win the 1966 Grey Cup.

That was the first time Saskatchewan raised the CFL’s top prize and Reed was named the game’s MVP.

“I just remember how crazy fans were. It’s hard to explain to people the way that it came about. That’s the thing I remember: How grateful the fans in Saskatchewan were that we had won the Grey Cup and we had brought it home,” Reed said.

“We got the first one for this city. I don’t think anything can top that. You can win however many, but when you do something for the first time, that’s the biggest.”

Reed’s accomplishments weren’t just on the field. He was the inaugural winner of the Tom Pate Award for the work he did in the community in 1976. He has helped out various organizations in Saskatchewan, such as the Special Olympics.

Reed said his coaches helped show him the importance of helping out.

“I think that came back when I first went off to college and the football coach I had there, he just followed up with my high school coach and they had a way of talking to me. I was finding things to do and helping out and it seemed to gravitate from that,” Reed said.

With Regina playing host to the Grey Cup on Nov. 20, Reed expects to be in attendance.

“They will find somewhere to put me to sit,” Reed said. “I just hope for a good game and everything else. I’ve always been a western person so whoever is from the west, I hope they win.”

Reed said he’s feeling good ahead of the game.

“I’m doing pretty good. I had an operation on my back to help my leg but things are coming along. I’m feeling better. Hopefully, in a couple of months I won’t need anything to help get around or anything else. I’ll be dancing in the street,” Reed said.