Rollie Miles facts for kids

Elmer Roland "Rollie" Miles (born February 16, 1927 – died August 17, 1995) was a fantastic professional football player in Canada. He played many different positions for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League. Rollie played for eleven years, showing off his skills as a running back, linebacker, and defensive back. He also helped out on special teams by returning kicks and punting.

Rollie is a true legend! He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, and the Edmonton Eskimos Wall of Honour. In 2006, he was even voted one of the top 50 players in the CFL's modern history!

Rollie's Early Life and College Sports

Rollie was born in Washington, D.C. He went to college at St. Augustine's College in North Carolina. At college, he was amazing at baseball, football, and track and field.

Rollie first came to Canada to play baseball in Regina, Saskatchewan. But then, a famous football person named Annis Stukus convinced him to play football for the Edmonton Eskimos. Even while playing in the CFL, Rollie kept playing semi-professional baseball in Canada.

Rollie's Amazing Football Career

Rollie Miles was one of the most flexible players ever in the CFL. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos for eleven years, from 1951 to 1961.

As a defensive player, he caught 38 passes from the other team. He also returned punts and kickoffs, running for thousands of yards. On offense, Rollie was a running back. He played alongside other CFL stars like Jackie Parker and Normie Kwong. He was very good at running with the ball or even throwing it on special plays.

Rollie was chosen as a CFL Western Conference All-Star eight times! He was named the Eskimos' Most Valuable Player three times.

Rollie played in five Grey Cup championship games. He helped the Eskimos win three Grey Cups in a row in 1954, 1955, and 1956. In the 1954 Grey Cup, he played with injured ribs but still helped his team win!

Rollie was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1980. The Eskimos honored him by adding his jersey number, 18, to their Wall of Honour in 1983. The City of Edmonton even named a sports field after him: the Rollie Miles Athletic Field.

Rollie's Life After Football

After retiring from football in 1961, Rollie continued to work. He had earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alberta in 1956. He worked for the Edmonton Catholic School Board, where he taught school and helped organize high school sports.

Rollie and his wife, Dr. Marianne Miles, had seven children. Some of his children also became involved in sports or music. His son, Rollie Miles, Jr., was a football player for the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Another son, Brett Miles, is a well-known singer and musician. His grandson, Jesse Lipscombe, is an actor.

Rollie Miles passed away in 1995 in Edmonton.