Winners: Normie Kwong, Football
Normie Kwong holding up his helmet.
Date: 1948-1960
Collection: The Canadian Press
1955 - Feature Story
The 1955 Grey Cup game was the first played west of Ontario. CFL fans in Vancouver would see Normie Kwong rush 30 times for 145 yards, both Grey Cup records. Yet Kwong also remembered he was tackled by confused defenders 30 more times, acting as the decoy while Johnny Bright or Jackie Parker had the ball. Kwong’s Edmonton Eskimos defeated Montreal, 34-19, overcoming Sam Etcheverry’s record-setting passing with a ground game that controlled both the ball and clock. On one play, the Montreal line massed to halt Kwong, but before the referee could whistle the play dead, Kwong pointed to Parker disappearing around the end with the ball. When not used as a decoy, Kwong had his first of four 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 1955, capped by a 192-yard effort against Calgary. He was named the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian player.
Career Highlights
- 1955, 1956 Schenley Award for Most Outstanding Canadian
- 1955 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)
- 1954-1956 Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos
- 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956 All-Western running back
- 1948 Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders
Normie Kwong wearing a football uniform.
Date: 1940’s
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Jackie Parker (left) and Normie Kwong (right) holding the Grey Cup between them.
Date: 1954
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Normie Kwong (right) standing beside sculptor Harold Pfeiffer (left) as he works on a bust of Kwong.
Date: 1955
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Portrait of Normie Kwong.
Date: 1950’s
Collection: Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame
Normie Kwong (middle) sitting in the locker room after an All-Star game.
Date: 1950’s
Collection: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
