Melford Russel Wilson (April 3, 1917 – July 29, 2007) was an all-star and record-setting Grey Cup champion Canadian football player, playing from 1937 to 1951. A Winnipeg native, Wilson played his first football with St. John's College, later playing two seasons at

Kelvin High School Kelvin High School is a public high school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The school is located in the neighbourhood of River Heights. Kelvin teaches grades 9 to 12 and is part of the South District of the Winnipeg School Division. History T ...

. In 1936 he captained the St. John's Roamers, who defeated the Moose Jaw Millers 13-5 to win the Western Canada Junior football championship. In 1937 he joined his hometown

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fie ...

for a 5-year stretch, playing in 4 Grey Cup games, and winning two in 1939 and 1941 (in which scored a touchdown). In 1942 he joined the citywide all-star team, the

Winnipeg RCAF Bombers The Winnipeg RCAF Bombers were a Canadian football team during World War II. They lost the 30th Grey Cup and 31st Grey Cup games. In 1942, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers didn't have any competition for the regular season so they created their own comp ...

, for the playoffs, losing another Grey Cup. He played 1943 with the Winnipeg United Services Combines and did not play in 1944. In 1945 he rejoined the Bombers for 3 seasons, playing in 3 more Grey Cup losses. He signed with the

Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (French: Les Alouettes de Montréal) are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has folded and been revived twice. The Alouettes compete in the East Division of the Canad ...

for 12 games in 1948. He finished his career with 3 more seasons with the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-o ...

and was part of their 1949 Grey Cup losing team. In all, Wilson played in nine Grey Cup championships, the most by any player until his record was later tied by six other players. He was also an all-star in 1941, 1946 and 1947 with the Bombers and in 1949 with the Stampeders. After he retired he was a successful amateur athlete, winning trophies in golf, curling, racquetball and competitive ballroom dancing. He worked with the Manitoba Labour Board, Winnipeg Hydro, retiring, age 80, as a commissionaire at the provincial legislature. He was inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame in 1985 and the

Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a Canadian museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, dedicated to honoring the history and achievements of sports in Manitoba. The organization began in 1980, and then opened a museum in The Forks in 1993. Afte ...

Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame - Mel Wilson
in 2004. He died, age 90, in Winnipeg on July 29, 2007.

References

External links

Just Sports Stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Mel 1917 births 2007 deaths Canadian football offensive linemen Winnipeg Blue Bombers players Montreal Alouettes players Calgary Stampeders players Players of Canadian football from Manitoba Canadian football people from Winnipeg