Ulysses Curtis
Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis (May 10, 1926 – October 6, 2013) was a running back in the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts from 1950-1954. He won two Grey Cups with Toronto in 1950 and 1952.
Position: | Running back |
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Personal information | |
Born: | Albion, Michigan | May 10, 1926
Died: | October 6, 2013 87) Toronto, Ontario, Canada | (aged
Career information | |
College: | Florida A&M |
Career history | |
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Curtis was long considered the Argonauts' first black player.[1] On February 2, 2021, it was revealed that Curtis was only their second ever black player after Ken Whitlock, a halfback & kicker who played only 4 games for the Argonauts in 1948.[2]
Curtis is sixth on the Argonauts all-time career touchdown list with 47 touchdowns, fourth on the Argos all-time rushing list with 3,712 yards on 529 carries, second on the Argos all-time list with most yards in a game with 208 yards, and third on the team list of most 100-yard rushing games with 12.[3]
After retirement from football, Curtis remained in Toronto and raised his family. He owned a cleaning business and later became a teacher and coach in the North York Board of Education. In 1959 he coached the North York Knights, a team that played in the national Canadian Junior Football championships. He also helped coach the York University football team in the 1960s.[4]
He was named to the Toronto Argonauts All-Time Argos List in 2005.[5]
Curtis died October 6, 2013 in Toronto.[1]
References
- "Ulysses Curtis opened doors in Toronto — and dashed through". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
- Hogan, Mike (February 2, 2021). "THE UNTOLD STORY OF KEN WHITLOCK, THE FIRST BLACK ARGONAUT". argonauts.ca. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- Wallace, Craig. "Ulysses Curtis". Argos Heroes. Toronto Argonauts Football Club. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
- "Remembering Ulysses Curtis, the first black Argonaut, who went on to educate many". yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-10-30.
- "ULYSSES 'CRAZY LEGS' CURTIS & DAVE 'SUPERMAN' MANN NAMED TO ALL-TIME ARGO LIST". Toronto Argonauts Football Club. 2005-10-26. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2008-04-20.
Notes
External links
- Wallace, Craig. "Ulysses Curtis". Argos Heroes. Toronto Argonauts Football Club.
- Historical Albion Michigan bio: Ulysses Curtis