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Leo Lewis Next Ring of Honour Inductee

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http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/09/14/the-leo-lewis-story/

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His legend lives to this day through still photos, hall of fame video clips from his 12 years with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and from those old enough – and fortunate enough – to have seen him play.

The late Leo Lewis ranks up there at the top of the icons who have worn Bomber colours, alongside the likes of Ploen, Jacobs, Brock, James, Stegall and Walby. And when his name is added to the Insurance Brokers of Manitoba Ring of Honour at Investors Group Field this Saturday, it will prompt another round of nostalgia that, for many, feels like a warm blanket on a blustery wintry day.

“He was a quarterback’s best friend,” said Ploen in a biography of Lewis on the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame website. “It didn’t matter what you asked him to do, he’d do it to the best of his ability. He was there all the time. He never complained. He was a true professional.”

Frank Rigney and Leo Lewis Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1965 Grey Cup. Copyright photograph Ted Grant

He was nicknamed ‘The Lincoln Locomotive’ dating back to his days before Winnipeg at Lincoln University in Missouri. And by the time his days in a Bomber uniform were done in 1966, he had left a lasting impression with thousands, not the least of which was the legendary Bud Grant.

In fact, here’s all you need to know about Lewis while we begin to document his many accomplishments: Grant, a hall of famer himself who coached both the Bombers and the Minnesota Vikings, to this day still refers to the gifted running back as the greatest player he ever coached.

Just to put that into perspective: after leaving the Bombers after a dominant run that produced so many legends, Grant coached in Minnesota from 1967-83 and again in 1985, and the list of Vikings he led that are now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame includes, among others, Carl Eller, Alan Page and Fran Tarkenton.

And yet, he ranked Lewis above all of them.

Lewis was a star at Lincoln, where he still holds school records for touchdowns in a season (22), career touchdowns (64), rushing yards in a season (1,239) and career rushing yards (4,457).

He was a sixth round draft choice of the Baltimore Colts in 1955, but opted to come north to Canada instead.

“At that time you don’t realize what kind of money (football players) were making,” Lewis told the Winnipeg Sun in 2007. “Winnipeg was probably offering $3,000-4,000 more than Baltimore, which still wasn’t that much. I said, ‘daggone it, what happens if I go up there and break a leg? If I go to Baltimore and break a leg I’ll get paid $3,000-4,000 less.’ I thought, ‘I may not have a lot of years to play pro so I think I’ll go to Winnipeg and regardless of what happens, I’ll earn just a little more.’”

Good call, Mr. Lewis.

The man found a welcoming home here in Winnipeg and was part of a run that is still referred to as the ‘Glory Days’ of the franchise. The Bombers would appear in six Grey Cups during Lewis’ time, winning four: 1958, 1959, 1961 and 1962.

He retired in 1966 after a knee operation.

“THOSE YEARS IN WINNIPEG WERE YEARS OF HAPPINESS AND JOY.” LEWIS TOLD CJOB’S BOB IRVING IN THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY BOOK ON THE BOMBERS TITLED ‘BLUE & GOLD.’

“The citizens treated me with respect and kindness and I will never forget it. Even though that was many years ago, the recollection of that period of time is always filled with tender, warm memories.”

Following his retirement Lewis worked with the United States Department of Agriculture, then with Hickman High School in Columbia, Mo. He then spent 30 years at his alma mater, Lincoln University, where he also served as a football, golf, basketball coach and the athletic director.

He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1973, the Winnipeg Football Hall of Fame in 1984 (the first year of its inception) and the College Football and Manitoba Sports Halls of Fame in 2005.

He passed away in 2013 at the age of 80 but will be represented by two of his sons at the Ring of Honour ceremony – Leo Lewis III and Marc. Lewis’ third son, Barry, is not able to attend.

Leo Lewis Winnipeg Blue Bombers scores touchdown during the 1965 Grey Cup. Copyright photograph Ted Grant

“It’s going to be wonderful,” said Lewis III, from his office at North Community High School in Minneapolis where he serves as athletic director. “And how fitting, but that’s my 60th birthday. It will be honourable to be up there with my brother Marc for the ceremony. It’s going to be great.”

“Certainly in those days the opportunities for black athletes were not as justified as they are now. The wage scale was competitive back then and I’m glad, as a black athlete coming out of a small college, that he had some options. I’ve studied those cultural issues around sport and it helped me understand what dad was experiencing.

“I look at all the photos of dad and every year somebody sends me a photo of him that I haven’t seen before.”

Lewis III played briefly in the CFL with Calgary and Hamilton and with the Minnesota Vikings – a good chunk of it under Bud Grant – from 1981-89 – and had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns in 1990 and with the Vikes again in 1990-91.

Marc, meanwhile, played for the Stampeders, Ottawa Rough Riders, and the Denver Gold and Oakland Invaders of the USFL.

“I don’t remember a lot about my dad’s career, but I’ve been able to understand a lot about his legacy because of Bud Grant and me playing under Bud Grant as well,” said Lewis III. “There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t learn more and more about my dad’s career.”

Lewis III is currently writing his own memoir and the more he learns about his father and his playing days with the Bombers, the more fascinated he has become about his days in Winnipeg.

“I’m so curious about what it was like up there, because it’s 50 years ago that he played there and I was only 10 years old when he retired,” he said. “I haven’t been able to come up to Winnipeg and relax and just embrace those who are still living who remember those years.

“I’m looking forward to being able to understand more about his career and what it was like back then from those who remember and those who followed the Bombers religiously.

“I’m proud that this ceremony will only add to his legacy and to help him be remembered.”

Ron Hameniuk Leo Lewis Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1962. Photo Ted Grant

THE LEO LEWIS FILE

– Played 12 years for the Bombers (1955-66) appearing in six Grey Cups, winning four.

– Nicknamed the ‘Lincoln Locomotive” during his college days at Lincoln University.

– CFL All-Star in 1962.

– CFL West Division All-Star in 1955, 1958, 1960-62, 1964.

– Inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

– Inducted the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1984.

– Inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

– Led the Bombers in rushing n 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964.

– Remains the Bombers all-time combined yardage leader with 18,577 yards (8,861 rushing; 4,251 receiving, 5,465 in returns).

– Was the Bombers all-time leading rusher upon his retirement in 1966 until Charles Roberts surpassed him during the 2007 season. Averaged 6.6 yards per carry.

– Is the Bombers all-time leader in kickoff-return yards with 5,444. Retired as the CFL’s all-time leader in kickoff-return yards (now fifth).

 

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wbbfan Grand Master

wbbfan

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2 hours ago, GimliJetsMan said:

Great choice!

Now that

Ploen-Stegall-Walby are in, I'm actually looking forward to each announcement.

Yeah we are getting to the point where the next inductees could be interesting. 

Leo lewis was a shoe in. Glad hes gonna get a day hope we win the game for him.

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iso_55 Newbie

iso_55

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8 hours ago, Rich said:

http://www.bluebombers.com/2016/09/14/the-leo-lewis-story/

 

Leo Lewis II will find out when he's in Winnipeg just how much Leo was & still is loved & respected as a Blue Bomber & as a man. Much, much respect to his father from me as a fan.  (The "We're Not Worthy" response, LOL!) He'll find out more about his Dad & his stellar career here. Such a deserving honour.

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iso_55 Newbie

iso_55

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20 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Should Matt D go in for the 700 plus yard passing game? 

No, only here for a short time. I don't think you can base a legacy on one game. When I think of Dunigan, even though he played for a number of CFL teams I still think of him as an Eskimo. Or... is he a Blue Bomber legend like Ken Ploen & Dieter Brock? I'm open to discuss... Appreciate your opinions.

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wbbfan Grand Master

wbbfan

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18 minutes ago, iso_55 said:

No, only here for a short time. I don't think you can base a legacy on one game. When I think of Dunigan, even though he played for a number of CFL teams I still think of him as an Eskimo. Or... is he a Blue Bomber legend like Ken Ploen & Dieter Brock? I'm open to discuss... Appreciate your opinions.

Yeah as much as it would be nice i dont think so either. 

elfred peyton maybe? rod hill? less browne? khari? I think the most seasons for any of those guys is 5. Blink should go up. Dave ritchie too. 

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Goalie Grand Master

Goalie

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4 hours ago, iso_55 said:

No, only here for a short time. I don't think you can base a legacy on one game. When I think of Dunigan, even though he played for a number of CFL teams I still think of him as an Eskimo. Or... is he a Blue Bomber legend like Ken Ploen & Dieter Brock? I'm open to discuss... Appreciate your opinions.

I'm not sure if he was here long enough to be a bomber legend. 

I guess my thought was yeah it was 1 game but it's a record that still stands and probably won't be broken anytime soon if ever. Are there other guys who deserve to go in first? Definitely.  I'd like to think Cal Murphy should go up as well 

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iso_55 Newbie

iso_55

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4 hours ago, IC Khari said:

Here's some footage, he had speed and strength for sure ...

 

It's really a shame that his kids seem to know little or nothing about his career as a Bomber. If he had played in the NFL he'd have been a legend. It really is unfortunate & this celebration of his playing days will help shed more light on his playing days for his adult kids

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Harbaugh Newbie

Harbaugh

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11 hours ago, iso_55 said:

It's really a shame that his kids seem to know little or nothing about his career as a Bomber. If he had played in the NFL he'd have been a legend. It really is unfortunate & this celebration of his playing days will help shed more light on his playing days for his adult kids

Hmm... Lol

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