Bud Irving
{{Short description|Canadian football player (1926–2024)}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Bud Irving
| number = 42, 29, 15
| team =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|5|2}}
| birth_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|9|7|1926|5|2}}
| death_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| position1 = Guard
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 178
| college =
| CIS =
| high_school = Kelvin (MN)
| playing_years1 = 1945–1950
| playing_team1 = Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| career_highlights =
| CFL =
| NFL =
}}
Harold "Bud" Kemp Irving (May 2, 1926 – September 7, 2024) was a Canadian football guard who played six seasons in the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU) (now Canadian Football League (CFL) West Division) for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. An attendee of Kelvin High School, Irving skipped college at a chance to play professional football.
Early life and education
Harold "Bud" Irving was born in Winnipeg on May 2, 1926. He attended Kelvin High School in Winnipeg, Manitoba, graduating in 1945. He was later inducted into the school's hall of fame.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kelvinhistory.org/Hall%20of%20Fame/?id=184|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322034409/http://www.kelvinhistory.org/Hall%20of%20Fame/?id=184|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 22, 2016|website=www.kelvinhistory.org|title=Harold Irving - École Secondaire Kelvin High School History}} Irving skipped college at the chance to play professional football in the Western Interprovincial Football Union (WIFU) (now CFL West Division) for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Professional career
As a rookie, Irving helped his team make the 33rd Grey Cup; however, they lost 0–35 against the Toronto Argonauts.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1945|title=Grey Cup: 1945|publisher=Canadian Football League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819154358/http://cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1945|archive-date=August 19, 2013|url-status=dead}} He appeared in all eight games during the 1946 season, starting seven and helping his team reach the championship for the second consecutive year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playeri/irvi01580.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Bud Irving Stats}} Their second championship also ended in defeat, as the Argonauts again were victorious.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1946|title=Grey Cup: 1946|publisher=Canadian Football League|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819232229/http://cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1946|archive-date=August 19, 2013|url-status=dead}} In his third season, Irving again appeared in every game, but only started five of them. For the third straight season, Winnipeg made the Grey Cup, but again lost to the Argonauts, this time by a score of 9–10.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1947 |title=Grey Cup: 1947 |publisher=Canadian Football League |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823212445/http://www.cfl.ca/page/his_greycup_recap1947 |archive-date=August 23, 2010}} With an expanded schedule in 1948, Irving started nine games as the Blue Bombers finished with a 3–9 record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1948wifuwpg.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1948 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (WIFU)}} Despite missing several games, he was named to the league's all-star team, tied with Bert Iannone.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89596461/the-winnipeg-tribune/|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|title=Seven Stampeders on Western Football Dream Team; Hiney and Irving in There|date=November 5, 1948}} {{Open Access}} He also scored his only career touchdown in 1948, on a fumble return.
He was a starter in all fourteen games in the 1949 season, earning second-team all-Western honors as the Blue Bombers finished with a 2–12 record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1949wifuwpg.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1949 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (WIFU)}} By the start of the 1950 season, Irving was the last member of Winnipeg who had played in one of their Grey Cups.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89596347/the-leader-post/|newspaper=The Leader-Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 22, 1950|title=Bud Irving lone holdover}} {{Open Access}} He appeared in all fourteen games in the season, helping the team compile a record of 10–4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1950wifuwpg.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1950 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (WIFU)}} They eventually made it to the 38th Grey Cup, but lost for the fourth time to the Toronto Argonauts.
Later life
Following the loss, Irving retired, with plans to complete a law course at University of Manitoba. He said, "I'm not getting the same kick out of football now, so I guess it's time to pull out." After getting a degree from Manitoba, Irving became an official of junior and intermediate football games. He later became an official in the Canadian Football League (CFL),{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89596398/star-phoenix/|newspaper=Star-Phoenix|title=Power Plays|author=Powers, Ned|date=August 16, 1960|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open Access}} retiring after officiating the 48th Grey Cup in 1960.
Irving died in Winnipeg on September 7, 2024, at the age of 98.{{cite web |title=Harold "Bud" Kemp Irving |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/winnipeg-mb/harold-irving-11981150 |website=Dignity Memorial |access-date=18 September 2024}} At the time of his death, Irving was believed to be the oldest living Blue Bomber, and one of the oldest former Canadian football players.{{Cite web|url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/sports/WHSFL-has-produced-nearly-100-pros-575749831.html|website=Winnipeg Free Press|title=WHSFL has produced nearly 100 pros|author=Morgan, T. Kent|date=November 15, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irving, Bud}}
Category:Canadian football guards