Former Stampeders, Eskimos great Normie Kwong dies at 86

Normie Kwong, a former fullback with the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos, died in his sleep Saturday at age 86.

Nicknamed the "China Clipper," Kwong was a member of four Grey Cup champion teams in 1948, 1954, 1955, and 1956, and earned Canadian Athlete of the Year honours in 1955. He finished his career with 9,022 yards and 83 touchdowns in 11 seasons.

Kwong was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, and he was named to Canada's Order of Merit in 1988.

“Our father was a great man who accomplished so much in his lifetime. A genuine family man, he also had tremendous success as a professional athlete, team owner, business executive, and government official," Kwong's family said in a statement.

After his playing career, Kwong was president of the Stampeders and a part-owner of the Calgary Flames. He was appointed lieutenant governor of Alberta in 2005, a position he occupied until 2010.