Lancaster was the head coach of the Eskimos from 1991-1997, appearing in the Grey Cup twice (1993, 1996) and winning the championship in 1993. He won more games as head coach of the Eskimos than any other coach.
Ron became the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1998 and was most recently the club's senior adviser to organizational development.
Ron had a brilliant 19-year CFL playing career with Ottawa and Saskatchewan. He spent his first three seasons with Ottawa, winning the Grey Cup in his first season in 1960. He was then traded to Saskatchewan and led the 'Riders to the playoffs 14 of his 16 seasons. He is third all-time on the CFL's career list with 3,384 pass completions, 6,233 pass attempts and 50,535 yards passing. Ron won the Schenley Award as most outstanding player in 1970 and 1976 and was a finalist for the award in 1966. He was an All-Canadian in 1970, 1973, 1975 and 1976 and a Western all-star in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1975 and 1976. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1985.
Ron also had a successful career with CBC.
Former teammate and close friend Hugh Campbell says, "Ron Lancaster was exactly what you got. His words and body language were unfiltered. Ron's love for Bev and family was always at the center of his life. He believed in hard work and thoroughly enjoyed his interaction with the huge variety of people in his life. Ronnie would turn a simple conversation with someone he knew forever or a fan he just met into a fun experience. I have a really good book's worth of info going through my head, but it's a struggle to put it into words. We were kids when we met and our families have been great friends." Ron and Hugh first met 45 years ago almost to the week in 1963.
Ron is survived by his wife Bev, sons Ron (Paula), Bobby (Kimberly), daughter Lana (Larry) and grandchildren Mark, Brittany,
Brie-Anne and Alexus.
QUOTES:
Eskimo President and CEO Rick LeLacheur - "This is a profound loss. He was a tremendous competitor, leader, mentor and friend. There are few people who have left as big an impact on our league as Ron Lancaster. Our deepest condolences to his family and many friends."
Former Eskimo Sean Fleming (1992 - 2008) - "A great man, simple but right to the point. Ron was a person people gravitated to. Loyal to his players almost to a fault, genuine to those he didn't know. Ron always said that the biggest compliment you could give a football player was to call him just that, a player. Someone who went out and did their job without any other reason but for the love of the game and for those around him. Ron was all that and more, he was a player, he was a coach, but most of all he was a great man."
Former Eskimo quarterback Tom Wilkinson (1972 - 81) - "He was just a great guy. A tremendous football player. I remember when we first went to the Grey Cup in '73 and that was the team you had to get by and no matter what the score was, if they had the ball late in the game they had the chance to win it. And he was just an all-around great guy".
Former Eskimo linebacker Willie Pless (1991 - '98) - "Ron was the best head coach I played for in my 14 years in the CFL. He had been in the trenches himself so he was a "players coach", who put a tremendous amount of trust and faith in his veteran players."
Former Eskimo Larry Wruck (1985-'96) - "I have seen very few people cry in football but I'll always remember the tears of joy rolling down Coach Lancaster's face after we won the '93 Grey Cup. He was just so passionate about the game of football."
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