One day these men are smashing helmets on the gridiron, the next they are knocking on doors, shaking hands and kissing babies. Here’s a list of some CFL players who moved into politics after a life of football:
1. Gene Makowsky (Saskatchewan Roughriders)—MLA in Saskatchewan
2. Chris Szarka (Saskatchewan Roughriders)—Regina city councillor
3. Sandy Annunziata (Toronto Argonauts, among other CFL teams)—Fort Erie town councillor
4. Lionel “The Big Train” Conacher (Toronto Argonauts)—Ontario MPP and federal MP (Liberal)
5. Mike Wadsworth (Toronto Argonauts)—Canadian ambassador to Ireland
6. Emery Barnes (B.C. Lions)—MLA in B.C.
7. George Spingate (Montreal Alouettes)—member of the Quebec national assembly
8. Larry Smith (Montreal Alouettes)— Canadian senator
9. Forrest “Fob” James (Montreal Alouettes)—governor of Alabama
10. J.C. Watts (Ottawa Rough Riders)— U.S. congressman from Oklahoma
11. Normie Kwong (Calgary Stampeders/Edmonton Eskimos)—lieutenant governor of Alberta
12. Peter Lougheed (Edmonton Eskimos)— 10th premier of Alberta
13. Don Getty (Edmonton Eskimos)—11th premier of Alberta
14. Bill Smith (Edmonton Eskimos)—mayor of Edmonton
15. Vince Scott (Hamilton Tiger-Cats)—Hamilton city councillor
16. Reg Wheeler (Hamilton Tiger-Cats)—Hamilton alderman