Ron Atchison
Athlete (1987)
Football
Ron was an outstanding middle guard and defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He started his football career with the Saskatoon Junior Hilltops and played with them for three years from 1947 to 1949. He joined the Roughriders in 1952 and was with them for 17 seasons. His toughness was known and respected throughout the league. He often played despite injuries.
In 1956 in his fifth season of play, Ron was named to the All-Western team as a middle guard. He repeated in 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963. When the term middle guard was deleted from football vocabulary he was voted All-Star defensive tackle. In recognition of his outstanding play, the Saskatoon Hilltops honoured him by naming its practice field, "Atchison Field".
In 1987 Ron was inducted into he Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame in 1980.
** Deceased
" I never had time for organized sports because I had to work. I was just a big strapping kid. " -- Ron Atchison left school at 14 to work on the farm, then played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 17 years