RIP Larry Highbaugh

Info and tributes to former Lions who have past away

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David
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CFL Hall Of Famer Larry Highbaugh just passed away in the state of Georgia, where he'd been teaching. He was 67 years old. STORY HERE.

Although known as a perennial All-Star DB with the Esks, Mr. Highbaugh got his CFL start with the Leos in 1971. He came to the club on August 16 on a 5 day trial. He replaced WR John Love on the roster and was activated on 8/24 against Calgary in the Stampede City, and had an immediate impact with a 67 yard kick return. For reasons known only to former coach Eagle Keys, after repeatedly activating and exposing Highbaugh during the 1972 season, he was plucked off the roster by Edmonton and converted to a defensive back. The rest, as they say, was history.

He was once timed at 9.2 seconds in the 100 yard dash while running track at Indiana University. That would have made him one of the fastest (if not the fastest) players in the CFL in '71. DB Jim Tomlin (aka "Jiminy Crickets") was also a blazer and of course, John Carlos (the famous sprinter who was sent home from the '68 games in Mexico City for his "Black Panther" salute on the podium) had a brief stint with the Alouettes that year as a wide receiver. Ottawa's Hugh Oldham was also very fast.

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DH :cool:
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Ballistic Bob
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CardiacKid
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Highbaugh got etched in my memory from watching the CFL during my childhood. Whenever we watched the Esks and he made a play, my mom could be guaranteed to comment at least once every game "he used to be a Lion". Almost in quiet frustration with how he was emblematic (in her eyes anyways) how the Esks dominated and the Leo's struggled during a sizeable chunk of that era. If only they kept guys like Highbaugh and didn't give them to the Esks, maybe things would have been different. :roar:
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