'He was the best': Fans remember Rider legend George Reed at celebration of life

This week, tributes and the stories of the late Rider legend George Reed have been heard across Saskatchewan.

On Friday, classic green and white jerseys filled the room at the International Trade Centre, as Rider nation gathered to celebrate Reed’s life.

At the service, Rider fans thought back to what they remember about the football great.

“He was the best,” said life-long Rider fan Kim Watt. “I remember from the 20 yard line, my dad and I used to cheer that he could smell the goal line from here and it was gold.”

Two young Rider fans revelled in the greatness of being able to meet Reed.

“The chiefs scored a touchdown and I threw my toque on the ground, and George was like, ‘Woah, you okay there, son?’ one boy said.

“He was obviously really good at football, there’s a reason he got a statue,” another young fan said.

REED’S PLACE IN RIDER NATION

Reed retired with several league records, including most rushing yards and most rushing touchdowns.

While his name will forever be burned into the CFL record book, league commissioner Randy Ambrosie believes that is not what made Reed so great.

“It was about his place in this community that made him so remarkable and special,” he said. “He was so kind and tireless to countless fans who wanted to meet him and generous to so many causes that sought him out.”

Reed is notably known for starting the George Reed Foundation, which supports Special Olympics and people with physical disabilities.

However, he was also a part of a total of 47 charitable organizations across the country, benefiting thousands of people over decades of community work.

“To me, he was bigger than life,” said foundation board member Darren Mitchell. “He was a very humble man.”

“[My dad] had a lot of grit and determination,” said daughter Georgette. “Not only on the football field but to see things get better.”

“That is something he instilled in me,” she added. “To never look down on someone unless you were lending a hand to help them up.”

Reed and his foundation recently donated $400,000 to the University of Regina to establish the centre for accessible communications, which enables non-verbal individuals to learn how to communicate.

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The Riders and the George Reed Foundation also created a legacy fund in his honour.

“It was the way he treated people, respected people,” Rider historian Rob Vanstone said. “You didn’t have to be George Reed to treat people the way George did.”

“There is always an opportunity to help and lend a hand,” Georgette said.

Wayne Morsky, former Roughrider, said that no one is gone until the ripples they cause die away.

“George’s ripples are far and wide,” he said.

STORIES OF GEORGE

“To all of you, he was George. To me, he was just dad,” his daughter said. “To my mom, she was the love of his life.”

While the fans loved George, he loved the fans just as much, never letting a jersey go unsigned or a photo go untaken, something an 8-year-old Vanstone will never forget.

“I absolutely froze. ‘There’s George,’ my mom prodded me,” Vanstone recalled. “’Like, go in there, get his autograph,’ and he was so nice.”

Then, making the province that brought him in as their own, his home, and making sure he left it a better place than when he found it.

“Whenever we would drive down to Texas, people would look at the licence plate and say, ‘Where is that?’ and he would go, ‘It’s up in Canada, it’s Saskatchewan, and I’m proud to be from there,’” said Georgette Reed, his daughter.

Mitchell recalled a story when he drove Reed to an event at Mosaic Stadium. At the time, it was very difficult for Reed to get around on his own.

They had parked in the lot outside of the stadium.

“[George] looked at me and said, ‘Just drive over the curb and pull up to the door,’” the story went.

Mitchell replied to Reed he could not drive onto the sidewalk.

“He then told me, ‘When you have your own statue, you can drive wherever you want,” Mitchell added as those in attendance at the service laughed.

Morsky looked forward to further stories that will be shared across Rider Nation.

“This isn’t the end,” he said. “There are so many stories about George that will be told forever and ever.”

The Riders will further honour Reed prior to kickoff at their game on Saturday.

“I hope he’s up there with [Ron Lancaster], with a cigarette, and just talking football, and talking about all the things we should be doing,” his daughter said to close out the service.