| Earl Lunsford | |
| Birth Date: | 19 October 1933 |
| Birth Place: | Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
| Number: | 27 |
| Import: | yes |
| Position1: | Running back |
| Height Ft: | 5 |
| Height In: | 11 |
| Weight Lb: | 200 |
| College: | Oklahoma State |
| Nfldraftedyear: | 1956 |
| Nfldraftedround: | 26 |
| Nfldraftedpick: | 305 |
| Nfldraftedteam: | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Administrating Years1: | – |
| Administrating Team1: | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Administrating Years2: | – |
| Administrating Team2: | Calgary Stampeders |
| Playing Years1: | , – |
| Playing Team1: | Calgary Stampeders |
| Cflallstar: | , |
| Cflwestallstar: | ,, |
| Cfhof: | earl-lunsford |
| Cfhofyear: | 1983 |
Earl Lunsford (October 19, 1933 – September 3, 2008), known as the "Earthquake", was a fullback for the Calgary Stampeders and is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Lunsford played during college at with Oklahoma A&M.
Lunsford was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League in 1956, but instead began his six-year career in the Canadian Football League that year with the Calgary Stampeders. His time in Calgary was interrupted for 2 seasons, 1957 to 1958, while serving in the United States military. He played 5 more seasons for the Stamps, from 1959 to 1963.
Lunsford rushed for over 1,000 yards 5 times, leading the West Division with 1,343 yards in 1960. During his best season, 1961, he led the entire CFL with a whopping 1,794 yards, which made him known as the first running back in professional sports to rush for a mile in one season.[1] He was an All West all star in 1960 and All Canadian in 1961.[2] That year, Calgary finished with a mediocre 7-9 record, but defeated the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western conference semi-final. However, they lost the Western conference final to the eventual Grey Cup winner, the Bud Grant-led Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His best game was on September 3, 1962, in Calgary, when he scored 5 rushing touchdowns, still a Stampeder record.
In his career, he rushed 1199 times for 6994 yards, a 5.8 yard average, and 55 touchdowns, with his longest run being 85 yards. He is the Stampeder all-time rushing leader with 55 touchdowns and 28 100-yard games and is second among Stampeders for all-time rushing yards.
Earl Lunsford had his own theme song "Earl The Pearl of Calgary".
| Year[3] | Team | GP | Rush | Yards | Y/R | Lg | TD | |
| 16 | 216 | 1283 | 5.9 | 57 | 7 | |||
| 1957-1958 | Military Service | |||||||
| Calgary Stampeders | 16 | 183 | 1027 | 5.6 | 22 | 10 | ||
| Calgary Stampeders | 16 | 214 | 1343 | 6.3 | 85 | 13 | ||
| Calgary Stampeders | 16 | 296 | 1794 | 6.1 | 62 | 10 | ||
| Calgary Stampeders | 11 | 180 | 1016 | 5.6 | 64 | 8 | ||
| Calgary Stampeders | 10 | 110 | 531 | 4.8 | 29 | 7 | ||
| CFL Totals | 1199 | 6994 | 5.8 | 85 | 55 |
After his playing career, Lunsford became General Manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1968–1982) and the Calgary Stampeders (1985–1987).
For his outstanding years as a dominant running back, Lunsford was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
He died September 3, 2008, aged 74, of Alzheimer's disease at his Texas home.[4] [5]