Played & Stayed

Ed McQuarters #61

Life in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Roughriders 1966-1973 Moved to Regina 1966

Ancestry

Born on April 16, 1943 in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Contributions

Sport, Business

Ed attended Carver Junior High School (now Carver Middle School) where he graduated in 1958.  He graduated in 1961 from his Alumnus Booker T Washington High School (BTWHS) in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Highlights

  • City all-star lineman
  • Played in first City North/South All-Star Football game
  • City, Regional and State heavy weight wrestling champ in grade 12, where he was undefeated that year
  • Won several first place and gold medals in shot put and discus, setting city record in shot put in grade 12
  • Voted BTWHS Athlete Of The Year in grade 12
  • Inducted into the Edison High School Wrestling Tournament Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1973

Ed attended the University of Oklahoma on a Wrestling scholarship; he then received permission to convert to a football scholarship in his sophomore year. He majored in Physical Education and Behavioral Science from 1961-1964

University of Oklahoma Highlights

1962 – Placed 2nd in the Big 8 Wrestling Tournament as Heavy Weight

1962 - Played in Orange Bowl loss against Alabama

1964 – Played in Gator Bowl loss to Florida State

1964 – Twice received game star “UG” award in games against Texas and Missouri

He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and then traded to NFL St Louis Football Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) in 1964. He was the final cut in the Cardinals training camp in 1966.  He played as a Defensive Lineman.

Ed joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club in Regina in 1966 as defensive tackle. He contributed to the team placing first in the Western Conference. The Roughriders secured a birth in the Grey Cup game due to his fumble return for a touchdown against Winnipeg in the playoff.  The team won the Grey Cup against Ottawa in 1966.  Ed also contributed to the team placing first in the Western Conference and secured a birth in the Grey Cup game in Hamilton, 1967.

Ed sustained an injury to his left eye in 1971 which resulted in the eye having to be removed.  He still returned to the football field 72 days later.  He missed some games in 1971-1972 due to knee injuries and retired from football in 1973.

Ed has retired from his work at SaskPower after 30 years there. During his career, he was Diversity Co-ordinator, Quality Improvement Co-ordinator, Manager of Community Relations, Manager of Special Projects, and Public Affairs Officer. He resides in Regina with his wife Bunnye. 

Some of Ed’s accomplishments are:

1967 - Western Conference All- Star Team

1967 - Schenley Award as the Canadian Football League Lineman of the year

1968 - Member of the All Canadian Football Team

1968 - All-Star Lineman in the Western Conference

1968 - Beckett-Demarco Memorial Trophy Winner, Most Outstanding Lineman in Western

             Conference

1969 - Member of the All Canadian Football Team

1969 - All Star Lineman in the Western Conference, and

1969 - Played in the first ever Canadian Football League East-West All- Star game.

1969 - Beckett-Demarco Memorial Trophy Memorial Winner

1969 - Member of the Canadian Football Coaches’ All Pro Team

1969 - Selected to the Canadian Football League Team of the Decade

1969 - Voted Canadian Magazine Best of the Sixties-Defensive Lineman

1970 - Member of the Canadian Football League Western All-Star Team

1985 - Saskatchewan Roughriders 75th Anniversary All-Time all Star team

1988 - Canadian Football League Hall of Fame and Museum

1989 - Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club Plaza of Honors

1999 - 5th place among the 50 top Saskatchewan Roughriders of all time

2006 - Selected to the Canadian Football League top 110 Finalist all time CFL Players list

2006 - Selected the best Defensive player in the History of Saskatchewan Roughriders top ten

players in the team’s history, and one of the friendliest players.

2014 – Selected best Defensive player in the History of Saskatchewan Roughriders