REED, CARTERI RECEIVE HIGHEST ALUMNI HONOUR

The CFL Alumni Association is pleased to announce that the co-recipients of the 2013 CFL Alumni Man of the Year Award are George Reed and Carm Carteri. The presentation will take place at the annual CFLAA Legends Luncheon presented by Saskatchewan Lotteries during this year’s Grey Cup Festival.  The two CFL stars from Saskatchewan have made their mark not only on the playing field but off the field as well.

“We thought about the concept of having co-recipients and think it is a very good model,” said Terry Bulych, president of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Alumni Association. “George is sort of a stand-alone guy – an icon who is still actively involved. He is very humble and a treat to be around. Carm has been the heart and soul of the Association for the past two decades or so. He is really the backbone of the organization and has kept it all together. They needed to be acknowledged and appreciated and it made sense to do so.”

Reed has been active in Saskatchewan in community service for many years and is a past president of the CFL Player’s Association. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and is currently Director of Guest and Community Relations at SaskGaming. He was one of the league’s premiere running backs during his 13 year career (1963-75) with the Roughriders and one of the CFL’s best of all time. The nine-time all-star owns virtually every Saskatchewan club rushing record, including most rushing yards in a career (16,116), most carries (3,243) and most rushing touchdowns in a career (134).

“It was a total surprise to me,” said Reed. “It’s excellent to be recognized by the ‘Rider Alumni Association for my time in Canada. It’s good for the league in terms of recognition and through the Association it’s great that more and more will be known about it.”

Carteri has had a life-long association with Saskatchewan and was president of the Roughrider Alumni for 15 years. He is in his 25th season as colour commentator for 620 CKRM Rider Radio. Carteri was born and raised in Regina and has been a successful businessman and community contributor since his playing days in the CFL. He is a six year veteran of the CFL and played for Saskatchewan, Hamilton and Montreal. He was an Eastern all-star linebacker with Hamilton in 1981.

“It’s a great honour to represent the Saskatchewan Roughrider Alumni,” said Carteri. “It’s been an honour to serve these guys. Helping out the Alumni is more about friendship and giving back to the community than anything else. It’s humbling to be honoured along with George Reed, he’s one of my all-time heroes.”

The CFL Alumni Man of the Year Award is given to the Alumnus selected in the host city of the Grey Cup and is honoured during the CFL Alumni Legends Luncheon.   The recipient is selected by the membership of the local Alumni Association. Past recipients include Don Durno, 2012, Toronto Argonauts; Norm Fieldgate, 2011, BC Lions; Bain Norrie, 2010, Edmonton Eskimos; and Sam “The Rifle” Etchevery in its inaugural year 2009.

The CFLAA Legends Lunch will take place at the Queensbury Convention Centre at Evraz Place.  Tickets and information about the luncheon can be found at 101greycupfestival.ca.