Virgil Edwin Wagner

Virgil Edwin Wagner, football player (born at Belleville, Ill 27 Feb 1922; died there 22 Aug 1997). Wagner entered the CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE as an original MONTREAL ALOUETTE in 1946, and as a high-scoring running back led the Als to the Big Four Title that first year, tying for the league scoring championship with Joe KROL. Wagner won the scoring title the next 3 years as well and is still the only man to win 4 consecutive eastern scoring titles. His scoring prowess brought instant credibility to the new franchise and helped the team earn a trip to its first GREY CUP appearance in 1949, where Wagner scored 2 touchdowns to help beat the CALGARY STAMPEDERS. Wagner played 5 more seasons with the Als. He won the Jeff Russell Memorial Trophy in 1947 as the Big Four's outstanding player and his career mark of 79 touchdowns was a new CFL record. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1980.