A football legend, Tom Casey’s modesty was only surpassed by his athletic prowess. Getting him to talk about himself was like pulling teeth. Upon further digging one came to understand that this was only part of the personality that not only made him a great football player, but a man beloved by the Canadian city that adopted him as their own.

Casey was a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a relatively short period of time from 1950-56. He played in the days when players stayed on the field on both sides of the ball; as both offensive running back and defensive halfback. He was a six-time All-Star in the CFL with career highlights including the Eddie James Memorial Trophy in 1950 as the leading rusher in the Western Conference and leading the Bombers in scoring in 1952.

He was a Grey Cup participant in both 1950 and 1953. Many will remember the infamous “no-call” for pass interference against Tom Casey on the goal line. That score would have tied the game and fellow teammate Steve Patrick was “sure we would have gone on to win that game.”

Patrick offered further insight where Casey would not, “Every door opened to him in anyone’s home... he was very hard working and sincere and also very polished.” In addition to placing second or third in his class at Medical College while playing pro football, Casey found time to coach high school girl’s basketball. “Everyone he touched couldn’t have enough nice things to say about him and (they) couldn’t get enough of him,” added Patrick. Not surprisingly, Dr. Tom Casey was named Winnipeg’s “Citizen of the Year” in 1956.

Induction into the CFL Hall of Fame in Hamilton came in 1964. The relatively new Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame bestowed the honour upon him in 1984.