EDMONTON – The 1960’s were lean years in Edmonton with the Green and Gold watching a golden era of players from the 1950’s reach the end of their illustrious careers.
The holdovers from the Esks early glory years were still good enough to help the team compete for their lone Grey Cup of the decade in 1960. Edmonton would fall to the Ottawa Roughriders by a 16-6 score and it would be over a decade until the club won a playoff series or game, never mind compete in the CFL’s championship game.
In the four seasons from 1962 to 1965, the Esks would average just over four wins per season, plunging to club into financial disarray. The creation of the Annual Dinner helped save the Green and Gold, and led to one of the most pivotal moments in franchise history in 1966.
As tough as the 1960s were for the franchise, the Double E would install the man responsible for setting up the decades of success that would follow in the ‘70s and ‘80s in Norm Kimball.
The long time Esks executive began his career in Edmonton coaching junior football before joining the Green and Gold in 1961 as a minor football coordinator. By 1966 he would be named the club’s General Manager – a position he would hold for the next two decades. His revamped scouting department brought in many of the names that will be featured on the 1970’s All-Decade team to be revealed on July 28.
The tail end of the 1960s saw some signs of life on the field under Kimball’s guidance. Edmonton made a playoff appearance three times between 1966 and 1969, before becoming a Grey Cup mainstay the following decade. The 1960s teams did not have the same star power as many of the Double E’s other All-Decade teams, but they set the table for the success that was soon to come.
COACH
Eagle Keys
- Eagle Keys represented the Green and Gold as both a player and coach over his 36 year Canadian Football League career. As a member of the Double E, Keys won one Grey Cup as a player, two as an assistant coach, and guided the 60s Edmonton teams to their lone Grey Cup appearance in 1960.
OFFENCE
Quarterback – Don Getty
- Getty was the Green and Gold’s quarterback for most of the early part of the decade, retiring in 1965 and entering politics. Getty would serve as the 11th premier of Alberta, holding office from 1985 to 1992.
Running Back – Jim Thomas
- “Long Gone” Jim Thomas was the Esks best weapon during their lean years in the 1960s. The running back played his entire career in Green and Gold, retiring with 6,161 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns.
Running Back – Butch Pressley
- Pressley played three seasons in Edmonton from 1964-66, scoring 12 of his 16 career touchdowns while with the Green and Gold.
Full Back – Mike Lashuk
- Lashuk is a former West Division rookie of the year and, like most of his era, played on both sides of the ball. The local product took over the running reigns from legend Johnny Bright, leading the Double E in rushing in 1962, after finishing second behind Bright in 1961.
1960s All-Decade Team quarterback Don Getty
Split End – Tommy Joe Coffey
- One of the best players of his era, Coffey recorded three straight 1,000 yard receiving seasons from 1963-65. He finished his CFL career with 10,320 yards and 63 receiving touchdowns, becoming a Canadian Football Hall of Famer in 1977 and a EE Wall of Honour member in 1988.
Flanker – Randy Kerbow
- Alternating between quarterback and flanker, Kerbow spent four seasons in the Canadian Football League – all with the Double E. Over his career, he recorded 22-total touchdowns between his rushing, receiving, and passing accomplishments.
Offensive Tackle – Mike Volcan
- Volcan was a long-time member of the EE who spent his entire CFL career with the club. The Hamilton native was a two-time Grey Cup champion (1955, 1956) before retiring in 1964.
Offensive Guard – Larry Fleisher
- Fleisher spent the early part of the 1960s as a fixture on the Double E’s offensive line, starting 48 games for the club between 1960 and 1963.
Centre – Don Stephenson
- The former Georgia Tech grad played 89 games with the Green and Gold from 1958 to 1963.
Offensive Guard – Mike Kmech
- Kmech was a born and raised Albertan who starred as a member of the Esks from 1956 to 1963, winning the Grey Cup in 1956 as a rookie.
Offensive Tackle – Earl Edwards
- Edwards was a large presence at 6-foot-7, 260 pounds over his two-year CFL career with the Green and Gold. He would go on to play an additional an additional 11 years in the National Football League with the 49ers, Bills, Browns, and Packers.
End – Jim Letcavits
- The receiver was a model of consistency during his time in Edmonton, recording at least 20 receptions, for 400+ yards, and at least two touchdowns in every year of his career from 1958 to 1962.
DEFENCE
Defensive End – E.A. Sims
- Sims was a two-time CFL All-Star and three-time West Division All-Star during his seven-year career in the Green and Gold.
Defensive Tackle – Greg Pipes
- Pipes was a former draft pick of the Buffalo Bills before playing five seasons in Edmonton from 1968 to 1972. He was named A CFL All-Star in 1970.
Greg Pipes poses for a photo
Defensive Tackle – John LaGrone
- LaGrone was known as a catalyst behind the Esks late 60s turnaround. He was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Lineman in 1969 and was inducted onto the EE Wall of Honour in 1988.
Defensive End – Ron Forwick
- Born and raised in Edmonton, Forwick played 10 seasons with his hometown club. He played his Junior Football with the Edmonton Huskies and was named a CFL West All-Star in 1970.
Linebacker – Jerry Griffin
- Griffin recorded 14 interceptions over his five year CFL career, all played in Edmonton.
Linebacker – Al Ecuyer
- Ecuyer played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League, with his first four being in Edmonton. He was named a West Division All-Star in 1959 and recorded 13 interceptions and 20 fumble recoveries over his career.
Linebacker – Howie Schumm
- Schumm played the entire decade in Edmonton, with his CFL career spanning from 1959 to 1971. He was the picture of durability, not missing a single game in his first eight season in the league.
Cornerback – Joe Hernandez
- Known as “Jack Rabbit” Joe Hernandez, the defensive back was a two-time West Division All-Star (1967, 1970) while a member of the Green and Gold. He recorded 16 interceptions over the course of four season with the EE.
Joe Hernandez
Defensive Halfback – Bayne Norrie
- Norrie was a long-time member of the Esks, playing eight seasons with the Green and Gold. He was an integral part in the establishment of the EE Alumni Association.
Safety – John Wydareny
- Wydareny played six seasons in the Green and Gold and was named a CFL All-Star twice. He still owns the EE record for interceptions in a season with 11, which he did twice in back-to-back seasons from 1969 to 1970.
Defensive Halfback – Dick Dupuis
- The Windsor, Ontario native suited up for nine seasons with the Esks, winning a Grey Cup with the team in 1975. Dupuis was also a two-time West All-Star (1971- 1972) and a one-time CFL All-Star (1971). In addition to his defensive duties, he was also a capable punt returner with Edmonton.
Cornerback – Mike Law
- Before winning a Grey Cup with Ottawa, Law was a solid contributor to the EE’s defence. He played five seasons in Edmonton, returning two turnovers (one interception, one fumble) for touchdowns in his career.
Dick Dupuis
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker – Peter Kempf
- Kempf finished his six-year CFL career in Edmonton, playing two seasons in Green ad Gold (1967,1968). He scored 163 points in his two seasons with the Esks.
Punter – Bobby Walden
- Walden played 17 seasons of pro football, with his first two seasons being a member of the Esks. He lead the league in punting in both seasons, before going down south and playing 14 years in the NFL, becoming a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kick Returner – Jim Thomas
Punt Returner – Dick Dupuis