Career
Lunsford played his college football with Oklahoma State University. 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 Stampeders. His time in 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 1000 yards 5 times, leading the West Division with 1,343 yards in 1960. During his best season, 1961, he led the entire Canadian Football League 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.
He was an All West all star in 1960 and All Canadian in 1961. That year, finished with a mediocre 7-9 record, but defeated the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western conference semi-final.
His best game was on September 3, 1962, in, 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 ".
After his playing career, Lunsford became General Manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1968–1982) and the Stampeders (1985–1987).
He died September 3, 2008, aged 74, of Alzheimer"s disease at his Texas home.
