There have been a long line of great import running backs in the Argo backfield, a torch passed from one to the other: Shatto, Gilchrist, Symons, McQuay, Orange, Metcalf, Minter, Fenerty, Clemons.
However, the one who got the ball rolling may have been the best of the bunch: Ulysses "Crazy Legs" Curtis.
"The best all-around halfback that Toronto ever had was Ulysses Curtis," said Nobby Wirkowski, Curtis's quarterback in the early 1950's and a long-time Argonaut observer after that. "In today's football, he'd make it as a running back, receiver and defensive back."
Curtis came to the Argos in 1950 from Florida A & M University, where he earned the nickname "Crazy Legs" while going out for a pass in his first practice. He was a double pioneer at the time, since he was one of the first imports and first black athletes to play for the Double Blue.
"The American players usually played the key positions," said Curtis, who also played a bit of defensive back, and was involved in a famous and unusual play as a DB. In a 1951 playoff game against Ottawa, Curtis intercepted a pass and was running for a touchdown, when all of a sudden, he was tackled by Pete Karpuk, who had come off the Ottawa bench to make the play.
While Curtis wasn't hurt by the surprise tackle, the Argos went on to lose that game to the Rough Riders. However, that disappointing campaign was sandwiched by a couple of Grey Cup victories in 1950 and 1952, of which Curtis was a key contributor.
He was particularly spectacular during the 1952 season, when he gained 994 yards on 127 carries for a 7.8 yard average. He also had 16 touchdowns, and he was able to do all that in a 12-game schedule. Career-wise, Curtis stands fourth in Argo rushing with 3,712 yards, second in 100-yard rushing games with 12, and second in single game yards with 208 vs. Montreal on Sept. 6, 1952.
"Nobby feels I should have been in the Hall-of-Fame," said Curtis, who has been overlooked so far, maybe because his career was rather short-lived (five years).
After football, Curtis and his wife Katherine, who were married in Florida, stayed in Toronto, where he went on to have a lengthy career with the North York Board of Education at schools such as Bathurst Heights, Earl Haig and Downsview. He started as a teacher in physical education, geography and history, moved on to a guidance counsellor position for 12 years, and finally retired five years ago as a race relations supervisor.
Curtis and his wife, a retired nurse, have two daughters, Carol (born in first Grey Cup win, 1950) and Sylvia (born in second Grey Cup win, 1952), and a son, Warren (born 1956, sorry, no Grey Cup that year!), who played college football at Michigan.
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