Leo Lewis

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For the former Minnesota Vikings player, see Leo Lewis (NFL).

Leo Lewis (born February 4, 1933) was a famed American College football player (Running Back) for Lincoln University of Missouri in the 1950s (1951-54), who continued his success with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (1955-1966).

He was nicknamed the "Lincoln Locomotive". Lewis holds the school records for touchdowns in a season (22), touchdowns in a career (64), rushing yards in a season (1,239) and career rushing yards (4,457).

Later, he played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was named All-Pro six times and eventually earned a spot in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Lewis was a member of an amazing four Grey Cup winning Blue Bombers teams. During his 11 year career in the CFL he rushed for 8,861 yards with a 6.6 yard average. He also was a remarkable kickreturner, averaging 29.1 yards on kickoff returns in his CFL career. Bud Grant, legendary Blue Bombers, and later Minnesota Vikings head coach, considered Leo Lewis the best player he had ever coached, whether in Canada or the United States.

Lewis was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in August 2005. Also in 2005, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the team the Blue Bombers named their 20 All-Time Blue Bombers Greats, of which Lewis was a member.

He had three children, two of whom played professional American football (one for the Minnesota Vikings - Leo Lewis III - and the other for the USFL Denver Gold and Oakland Invaders and the CFL's Ottawa Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders)- Marc Lewis.