RIP Larry Highbaugh

[Diesel]

Sadly passed away during surgery. One of the best ever....

[Section N]

Eskimo great Larry Highbaugh - Dead at age 67

Extremely sad day in the Empire.

It has been confirmed. Former Edmonton Eskimo great Larry Highbaugh has died.

— Terry Jones (@sunterryjones) March 22, 2017

[Esks1975]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

What? So sad. Awesome player. Condolences to his family and friends.

[pizmo]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

Damn, damn, damn. I enjoyed watching him play. RIP Larry. Much too soon.

[Jtuck09]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

Just talked to my Dad on the phone as this was always a player he'd mention to me while I was growing up watching the Esks play. He was well liked in Edmonton.

He told me a story about how Larry would come out to the high school my Dad was teaching at and play the senior girls volleyball team, BY HIMSELF, and would routinely whip them all over the court. By himself. Incredible and an amazing athlete from all accounts.

RIP Mr. Highbaugh

[Hugoagogo]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

I've relayed this story many times, but one of my first live game recollections was back at Clarke in the Knothole Gang. Larry was back in the endzone for a field goal attempt by the opposition. Kick went wide left. Larry slowly started dropping to his knee as players swarmed him. Just as his knee was about to touch the turf and everyone let up - ZOOM! Down the field with a burst of speed. He didn't make it all the way, but the return covered at least 70 yards. If I have to pick one moment where I fell in love with our game, the CFL...that was it.
Rest in peace Mr. Highbaugh. Thank you for so many wonderful memories.

[turftoe27]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

So sad to hear this. Condolences to his family and friends. A very sad day for the Eskimo empire.

[Uncle Bobby]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

He was the first Esks player I ever met in person.

In the days before internet, all you knew about a player was what you saw on game day broadcasts. Highbaugh and 4-5 other Esks came to my school in Northern Alberta as part of a basketball tour in the off season. I was in awe at the athleticism and seeing those "stars" in person.

Thank you, Mr. Highbaugh.

BONE #13

[glenvb]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

This one hurts.

RIP.

[Diesel]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

Just talked to my Dad on the phone as this was always a player he'd mention to me while I was growing up watching the Esks play. He was well liked in Edmonton.

He told me a story about how Larry would come out to the high school my Dad was teaching at and play the senior girls volleyball team, BY HIMSELF, and would routinely whip them all over the court. By himself. Incredible and an amazing athlete from all accounts.

RIP Mr. Highbaugh

He came out with the Esks basketball team to play my senior high team and besides Tom Tuinei blocking out the sun, Highbaugh ran us absolutely ragged and followed up with making several no look free throws. Amazing athlete, and such a beloved guy in the community here. Godspeed Larry

[stamphater]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

RIP to an Eskimo legend...

[Hugoagogo]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

http://www.gwinnettprepsports.com/sc...ign=user-share

Longtime South Gwinnett teacher, official and CFL Hall of Famer Larry Highbaugh dies

Long before he arrived in Gwinnett County, Larry Highbaugh was an accomplished athlete, first at Indiana University and later as a Canadian Football League legend.

Highbaugh enjoyed telling stories of his glory days, but he was known for different reasons in Georgia, where he worked extensively as a high school sports official and coached both football and track and field at South Gwinnett. His wide grin and engaging personality made him a beloved figure around South, where he worked with autistic students in the special education department for more than 20 years, and beyond.

His many friends have been mourning Highbaugh since Tuesday evening, when the 67-year-old died around 6:15 p.m. after complications from surgery earlier in the day. He was diagnosed with a rare heart condition previously and was on a transplant list, but then doctors discovered prostate cancer, which took him off the transplant list for cancer treatment. His Tuesday surgery was a heart procedure.

“Coach Highbaugh was a fixture at South Gwinnett for a long time,” said South Gwinnett assistant principal Rodney Born. “I had the pleasure of competing against his teams as a track athlete in high school, coaching against his teams when I started coaching in the late ‘90s and working beside him at South for 15 years. He always had a smile on his face and a story to tell. You couldn’t be around him and not be in a good mood. He loved telling stories about his days playing football in college and in the CFL, where is in the Hall of Fame. But his favorite stories were always about his family and how proud he was of the adults his kids had become. He was a good friend and his spirit touched a lot of people over the years. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.”

Highbaugh was born and raised in Indianapolis, where he went to Washington High School. He lettered in football for two years and in track and field for four years at Indiana before rising to fame in professional football. While at Indiana, he was part of the “IU 10,” a group of black players who left the Hoosiers’ football team in 1969 because they felt they weren’t treated equally and their concerns weren’t addressed.

He played briefly with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys before starring in the CFL, first with the British Columbia Lions (1971-72) and then with the Edmonton Eskimos (1972-83). He won six Grey Cup titles with the Eskimos, was a three-time CFL all-star and was named to the Eskimos’ Wall of Honor in 1996. In 2004, he was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame, and two years later he was voted one of the CFL’s top 50 players of the modern era by TSN.

Highbaugh played defensive back, kick and punt returner, wide receiver and running back during his CFL career, finishing with 66 career interceptions, 16 offensive touchdowns, three kickoff return TDs and one punt return score. He set Edmonton records for career interceptions, longest kickoff return (118 yards), longest punt return (116), most interception return yards (770) and most kickoff return TDs.

His legendary career also earned him a spot in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.

[danlaurin]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

RIP Larry Godspeed

[LBL]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

He'll be sadly missed. He was the epitome of an Eskimo and had a large part in why I became an Eskimo fan. I could only see them when they were in Winnipeg or on tv but he was the guy who impressed me the most ....

[Section N]

Re: RIP Larry Highbaugh

Just talked with Dave Cutler who was a teammate of Larry Highbaugh's during the 5 in a row era. https://t.co/REMRGGIdit

— Morley Scott (@Morley_Scott) March 22, 2017