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Former Edmonton Eskimos running back Jim Thomas dies at 76
EDMONTON – Former CFL All Star and Edmonton Eskimos running back Jim Thomas has died. He was 76.
The Eskimos announced Thomas’ death — which occurred on Oct. 4 — on Thursday.
Thomas, from Columbus, Miss, spent nine years with Edmonton from 1963 to 1971. Nicknamed “Long Gone,” he ran for 6,161 career yards — third most on the Eskimos all-time list — on 1,111 carries with 37 touchdowns. He also recorded 221 receptions for 2,642 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Thomas holds the record for the three longest rushing touchdowns in Eskimos history — a 104-yard TD run on Oct. 9, 1965 against the B.C. Lions, a 100-yard run on Aug. 2, 1966 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and a 97-yard run on Sept. 4, 1964 against the Ottawa Rough Riders.
Thomas was a West Division all in each of his nine seasons with Edmonton and was named a CFL all-star twice (1966, 1967).
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