The Saskatchewan Roughriders are mourning the loss of one of the franchise’s all-time greats. Garner Ekstran, a member of the Roughriders’ 1966 Grey Cup championship team and a 1990 Plaza of Honour inductee, passed away of natural causes on Saturday in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. He was 86.
Ekstran spent seven seasons with Saskatchewan from 1961 to 1967 and became one of the most respected defensive players in team history.
A three-time All-CFL selection, Ekstran played a key role in helping the Roughriders capture the first Grey Cup championship in franchise history with a 29-14 win over Ottawa in 1966. He was among the team leaders in defensive tackles in that championship game and was part of a strong Washington State University connection that also included George Reed, Hugh Campbell and Wally Dempsey.
Known for his toughness and relentless style of play, Ekstran was named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Lineman in both 1961 and 1963. Despite often being undersized compared to his opponents, he built a reputation as one of the CFL’s fiercest defenders.
Over his career in green and white, Ekstran played 110 of a possible 112 regular-season games and added 16 playoff appearances, including Grey Cup appearances in 1966 and 1967.
Following his football career, Ekstran returned home to Bow, Washington, where he worked as a dairyman, remaining close to family and community.
He is survived by his three children, Kristen, Kara and Keith, along with two grandchildren.
