One of UBC's finest athletes, played both ways for 'Birds football, later playing pro with BC and Calgary. Was also UBC rugby star winning Vancouver rugby's outstanding player award in '44 and in '48 was selected UBC campus "Sportsman of the Year."
"Dougie", an athletic star at Vancouver’s Kitsilano High School, enrolled at UBC in 1942, successfully earning a berth on both the UBC Thunderbird rugby and football teams. The Ubyssey described him as "especially brilliant" in his first UBC rugby game in 1942. A few days later he was described as "outstanding" in his first UBC Thunderbird football game. It was just the beginning of a stream of accolades Reid would receive during the football and rugby seasons as the wiry ball carrier often exhibited sensational broken field runs. In fact, UBC football fans watching Reid in 1942 would be seeing a UBC football player destined to play professional football.
The 1943/44 school session opened with Reid showing his athleticism being acknowledged as one of the best players on UBC's cricket team, a team that had just completed its season in a tie for second place.
Due to the war effort, UBC did not field a football team this 1943/44 season, allowing Reid to focus his attention on Thunderbird rugby where he again was the star on the field. "Doug Reid played his usual sparkling game by putting the ball betwixt the posts four different times.” Reid dominated for UBC; "reason for the poor showing of the opposition...was Dougie Reid, yes, just Dougie Reid" (Ubyssey). In an eight game stretch during the 1943/44 season, Reid executed an unprecedented scoring binge by individually accounting for 71 of the 143 points recorded by UBC. The season was climaxed by Reid being awarded the Howie McPhee Trophy, presented to the Vancouver rugby player showing the most sportsmanship, ability and leadership. The UBC Totem annual reported that he "...seemed to have the whole team working with him and avoided selfishness at all times." Reid is one of the select few UBC players to win this coveted rugby award named for McPhee, a UBC rugby great.
In addition to his participation in rugby and cricket this 1943/44 season, Reid was a member of UBC's Senior ‘B' basketball team. He completed his four sport athletic year by placing second in the high jump at the UBC intramural track meet.
During the summer of 1944 Reid again played for UBC's Varsity cricket team, a team that included future UBC Hall of Famers Dr. Harry Warren, Maury Van Vliet and Sandy Robertson.
During the 1944/45 and 1945/46 school sessions Reid did not attend UBC, much to the chagrin of campus athletics. Reid did return in 1946/47 and lined up with the newly formed UBC Thunderbird football team now playing in the US Pacific Northwest Conference. Reid was described as "a swivel-hipped ground gainer of the triple threat variety". This season he had diverted from his customary running and kicking to that of a passing quarterback and defensive specialist.
When football ended in late 1946, Reid was back with the Thunderbird rugby team and, along with Don Nesbitt, led the Blue and Gold to the BC championship and the 1947 McKechnie Cup.
In 1947/48 Reid returned as captain of UBC's football team, competing once again in the U.S. Pacific Northwest Conference. He again was quarterback and although UBC did not fare well, his passing was termed "brilliant" by the Ubyssey. By the season's end Reid was first in line to receive accolades from the reporters covering football, praising him for his 60-minute games and his tenacity.
When the football season was over, Reid returned to Thunderbird rugby and was one of the reasons for a very successful season as they won both the World Cup and the 1948 McKechnie Cup.
In March of 1948 Reid was honoured as UBC's 1947/48 "Sportsman of the Year" in balloting conducted by the Ubyssey. "The victory of Reid is a popular decision on campus, as he is personally popular as well as being a stellar player in all sports" reported the now daily paper.
In 1948/49 and 1949/50 Reid again played both football and rugby for the Blue and Gold. Game after game Reid kept UBC's football team competitive with his broken field running. The "idol of the campus" was a 60-minute man who, with the likes of George Puil, "turned in grand games on offense and defense."
After completing UBC in 1950, Reid immediately pursued a career in professional football.During the 1950 and 1951 seasons Reid played for the Calgary Stampeders. When the BC Lions entered the league in 1954, Reid tried out for and made the team. He played for the Lions in 1954 and 1955, at which point he retired after four years of professional football and six years of collegiate athletics.
After Reid's final UBC football game, the Ubyssey reported "Dougie Reid's dirty white jersey with the big 38 on it encased in the trophy room might well serve to remind future generations of UBC athletes that it is how they play the game that will be remembered".
Researched and written by Fred Hume, UBC Athletics Historian
