So it is only fitting that Stegall was earlier today named the recipient of the 2007 Ed Kotowich Good Guy Award. The award recognizes a Blue Bomber player for their excellence in combining football ability, team camaraderie and extraordinary effort in the community and honours former Blue Bomber offensive lineman Ed Kotowich.
Stegall is currently having one of the best seasons of his 13-year CFL career. He became the CFL’s All-Time Touchdown Leader earlier this season and has scored a total of 144 TDs since breaking into the league with the Big Blue in 1995.
The Turtle-Man also recently topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the 10th time of his career and is once again among the league-leaders in pass receptions this year.
Stegall has been equally productive in the community this past year. He has made countless appearances on behalf of organizations such as CancerCare Manitoba, the Never Alone Foundation and the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Manitoba.
One of only three two-time winners of the Ed Kotowich Award, Stegall has also given generously of his time to causes like the Siloam Mission for the homeless and Special Olympics Manitoba. As well, he has made numerous public appearances at local community centres and churches and has spoken to youth on several occasions about drug and gang awareness.
Ed Kotowich was a member of the Blue Bombers for seven seasons between 1955 and 1961. He played in three Grey Cups during that time (1958, ’59 and ’61) and earned individual recognition as a Western All-Star and as a recipient of the Tommy Lumsden Award as the Bombers’ outstanding Canadian player.
After retiring as a player, Kotowich worked with the Winnipeg Rods as an offensive line coach and later with minor football programs at Winakwa and Windsor Park Community clubs. He also served as an alderman for the City of St. Boniface between 1968 and 1977 and worked on a number of community boards including the St. Boniface Parks Board, the St. Boniface Museum and the Knights of Columbus. He was also an ardent supporter of the Festival du Voyageaur and the Boni-Vital pool complex.
A complete list of former Ed Kotowich Award winners is included below.
YEAR PLAYER
1987 Vernon Pahl
1988 Trevor Kennerd
1989 Perry Tuttle
1990 Rod Hill
1991 Matt Pearce
1992 Darryl Sampson
1993 Matt Dunigan
1994 Matt Pearce
1995 Miles Gorrell
1996 Wade Miller
1997 Wade Miller
1998 Glen Scrivener
1999 Dave Vankoughnett
2000 Troy Westwood
2001 Brett MacNeil
2002 Dave Mudge
2003 Moe Elewonibi
2004 Matt Sheridan
2005 Milt Stegall
2006 Chris Cvetkovic
2007 Milt Stegall
