Rollie Miles Award

Awarded to the player(s) on each Grizzlies team who have exhibited outstanding heart, effort and leadership

 

Rollie Miles

was a legendary football player and educator who lived most of his adult life in Edmonton. Originally from Washington D.C., his outstanding athletic ability was recognized by Edmonton Eskimo coach Annis Stukas when Rollie was playing minor league baseball in Regina.

He was recruited to play for the Eskimos in 1951 and he went on to have an outstanding career. He played for the Eskimos for eleven seasons (1951-61) and played in five Grey Cup games, winning three. He was a western all star nine times and was elected to the CFL Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Eskimos Wall of Honour in 1983. When he retired from football, Rollie focused his attention on raising his family and teaching.

After receiving a degree from the University of Alberta in 1956 he worked for the Edmonton Catholic School Board where he taught and helped organize High School sports. Rollie passed away in 1995. Rollie’s son Mario Miles co founded the Millwoods Grizzlies Minor Football Association in 1996 and coached from 1996 to 2003 and again from 2007 to the present.

Rollie’s grandson Mario Miles Junior played for the Grizzlies from 1996 to 1999. Rollie’s contribution to football, student athletics and the community was recognized by the City of Edmonton with the renaming of Strathcona Athletic Park to Rollie Miles Athletic Park.

The Rollie Miles Award is awarded to the player or players on each Grizzlies team who have exhibited outstanding heart, effort and leadership.

The award has been awarded every season since 1998.