Don Luzzi
Encyclopedia
Don Luzzi was a politician and professional football player who played in the Canadian Football League
.
, Don Luzzi played 12 seasons for the Calgary Stampeders
from 1958 to 1969. Luzzi was an all-Western conference star, both as an offensive tackle and as a defensive tackle. In 1958, he was selected to the CFL Western All-Star Team at both offensive and defensive tackle positions. He was also an all-Canadian defensive tackle in 1962, 1963, and 1966. His team reached the Grey Cup
game once, in 1968
, but lost a close game to the Ottawa Rough Riders
led by quarterback Russ Jackson
. From 1961 to 1969, he played in front of Canadian Football Hall of Fame
middle linebacker Wayne Harris
, forming a duo in the middle part of a defense difficult to run against. Luzzi himself was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in 1986.
in the 1971 Alberta general election
in the riding of Calgary-Buffalo. Luzzi was defeated in a hotly contested election by Ron Ghitter
, losing to Ghitter by about 500 votes.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
CFL career
After playing college football at Villanova UniversityVillanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, Don Luzzi played 12 seasons for the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
from 1958 to 1969. Luzzi was an all-Western conference star, both as an offensive tackle and as a defensive tackle. In 1958, he was selected to the CFL Western All-Star Team at both offensive and defensive tackle positions. He was also an all-Canadian defensive tackle in 1962, 1963, and 1966. His team reached the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
game once, in 1968
56th Grey Cup
56th Grey Cup was played November 30, 1968, and the Ottawa Rough Riders defeated the Calgary Stampeders 24 to 21 before 32,655 fans at Toronto's Exhibition Stadium...
, but lost a close game to the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
led by quarterback Russ Jackson
Russ Jackson
Russell Stanley "Russ" Jackson, OC is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. Jackson spent his entire 12-year professional football career with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League...
. From 1961 to 1969, he played in front of Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
middle linebacker Wayne Harris
Wayne Harris
Carroll Wayne Harris is a retired American professional football player who was a linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League from 1961 through 1972.-High school and college:...
, forming a duo in the middle part of a defense difficult to run against. Luzzi himself was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in 1986.
Political career
Luzzi made a run at provincial politics. He ran for the Alberta Social Credit PartySocial Credit Party of Alberta
The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values....
in the 1971 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1971
The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
in the riding of Calgary-Buffalo. Luzzi was defeated in a hotly contested election by Ron Ghitter
Ron Ghitter
Ronald D. Ghitter is a Canadian lawyer and former Senator.Born in Calgary, Alberta, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956 and his Bachelor of Law degree in 1959 from the University of Alberta. He practised real estate law in Calgary...
, losing to Ghitter by about 500 votes.