WINNIPEG – Bud Grant is getting some company outside Investors Group Field.
Two and a half years after unveiling Grant’s statue, the Bombers are building another monument to honour another legend. The Bombers announced plans to raise a bronze statue in the likeness of the late Cal Murphy.
Murphy was born in Winnipeg and spent over 30 years in the CFL, including 14 seasons with the Bombers. He won the Grey Cup nine times and is second on the franchise’s all-time wins list as a head coach with a record of 86 wins, 51 losses and one tie. He first joined the club in 1983 and won the coach of the year award in his first two seasons at the helm. He passed away in 2012 at the age of 79.
“The Cal Murphy statue will honour one of the most iconic and successful figures in the great history of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Canadian Football League,” Blue Bombers President & CEO Wade Miller said. “The statue is a tribute to a man who accomplished historic milestones while leading our organization. Thank you to our donors along with Blue Bomber Alumni for their support in raising funds for the statue.”
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Murphy also spent time with the B.C. Lions, Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Eskimos and Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’s a member of both the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall Of Fame.
“Our entire family is honoured Cal is being recognized in this way,” the Murphy family said in a statement. “We wish to thank the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, past presidents, directors, and supporters for their recognition of his contributions. The Blue Bombers and the City of Winnipeg have special memories for our family and we look forward to being a part of the unveiling ceremony in September.”
The statue will be located at the north east corner of Investors Group Field outside gate three. The monument is being built by MST Bronze Limited which is the same company that crafted the Grant statue. The official unveiling will take place on September 21.
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