| No. 21 | |
| Born: | July 11, 1933 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died: | July 23, 2009 (aged 76) Plano, Texas, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | RB |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| College | North Texas State |
| NFL draft | 1955 / Round: 18 / Pick: 208 |
| Drafted by | Baltimore Colts |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1956 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1957–62 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL West All-Star | 1959 |
| Awards | Grey Cup Most Valuable Player (1959) |
Charles "Charlie" LaFayette Shepard, Jr. (July 11, 1933 – June 23, 2009) was an award-winning, all-star and Grey Cup champion running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1957 to 1962.[1]
A graduate of North Texas State University, Shepard played with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1956, rushing for 91 yards in 12 games.[2] He next joined the Blue Bombers in 1957 for an all-star 6-year stay. He would play in the Grey Cup championship game 5 of those years, winning 4 times. His best season was 1959, when he rushed for 1076 yards, was an all-star and was Grey Cup Most Valuable Player.[3][4] He rushed for 3768 yards with the Bombers and was an excellent punter, never averaging less than 43.1 yards per punt in a season.[5]
He has since been inducted into the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame, in 1992,[6] and the North Texas State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.[7] Charlie Shepard died July 23, 2009, age 76.[8]