Our Purpose and Commitment

Vision

To provide a lasting vehicle through which the Calgary Stampeder Alumni Association, in partnership with the Calgary Stampeder Alumni Charitable Foundation, can give back to the community for generations to come.

Mission

To build and maintain a strong, sustainable charitable organization that serves both the existing and emerging needs of the community — with a focus on minor football funding, youth-based charities, and support for individuals on a case-by-case basis.

Governance

The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of a chairperson and three members of the Alumni Association, an executive and an active player from the Calgary Stampeder Football Club, and one member from the community at large. All positions are unpaid. The Board is responsible for allocating funds on an annual basis.

Who We Are

The Calgary Stampeders Alumni Association exists to foster friendship, camaraderie, and connection among those who've shared the field as CFL players. Our mission is to promote the game of football, lead by example, and inspire the next generation through positive role models and hands-on community involvement.

Founded in the fall of 1975, our members have built a legacy of giving back. Each year, we run youth football skill camps, compete in charity hockey games, join current Stampeder players in school basketball games, and participate in Southern Alberta golf tournaments — all in support of local causes. We provide speakers for sports awards banquets, oversee the Wall of Fame Induction Program at McMahon Stadium, and raise funds through a variety of charitable events. Proud of that record, we're reputed to be the largest and most active alumni association in Canada.

Calgary has always been a destination city for CFL stars — a great place to play, and an even better place to put down roots. Many alumni choose to stay, building careers in business or settling into retirement here. The Stampeders franchise carries a rich history, and this association exists to keep fans connected to the people who made it. Whether you're looking to reconnect with a former player or stay current on what our members are doing in the community, you've come to the right place.

Board of Directors

  • Running Back | 1989

    After his senior year with the ISU Bengals, Butch signed as a free agent with the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1988. After getting released, he went back to Idaho State to complete his degree and continue training for another NFL opportunity. Then one day, the phone rang. It wasn't an NFL team, but it was an opportunity. It was the Calgary Stampeders. He joined the Stamps in 1989 and had the best training camp of his life. Coach Larry Kuharich kept track of how many plays a player missed, how many blocks a player missed, how many passes a player dropped and how many fumbles a player had. Through the whole training camp, Butch only made one mistake, he dropped one pass. That's how he ended up making the team. Butch's first regular season game was at Regina's Taylor Field against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It turned out to be his last. He was on the field for the opening kickoff, and the ball came right to him. He was running with the ball and had a big grin on my face. All he could see was open field. He knew it was six and he knew no one was going to catch him. He made a cut to the right and then tore his hamstring before anyone touched him. He hobbled about 15 or 20 yards before he actually hit the ground. That injury ended his professional football career. Later that season, he was released by the Stamps in 1990. He gave it one more shot with the BC Lions in 1991, but the hamstring injury wouldn't go away. "Coach Bob O'Billovich pulled him aside and said I can tell you're hurt. I'm going to let you go home and heal it and I'll call you back in four or five weeks," But I told O'Billovich not to bother. I knew I was done playing ball. Butch is currently a Bank Manager for ATB Financial and is married to Angela and has two boys Dominic and Jaden. Half his life has been spent in Canada and Calgary now and he really enjoys coaching both his boys in all their sports activities.

  • Fullback | 2007–2017

    A Calgary native, Rob Cote grew up in Cochrane, Alberta and signed with the Stampeders as a 20-year-old in 2007 after playing Canadian Junior Football. What followed was one of the most quietly remarkable careers in franchise history.

    Cote appeared in 179 regular-season games — tied for eighth most in franchise history — and also played in 12 West Division playoff games and four Grey Cups, winning CFL championships in 2008 and 2014. Over his career he recorded 113 catches for 1,160 yards and 13 touchdowns, 40 carries for 143 yards, and 82 special-teams tackles.

    Cote served six seasons as a team captain and was twice voted by his teammates as the winner of the Presidents' Ring for excellence on and off the field. He also served as the club's official representative for Hospice Calgary, and in 2013 received the Herm Harrison Memorial Award for community service.

    Cote retired in January 2018 after 11 seasons with the Red and White.

  • Guard | 2000-2003

    Born and raised in Calgary, David was drafted in the 1997 Canadian Football League draft and ended up playing 7 years - 126 regular season games, 8 playoff games including 4 West division finals and two Grey Cup Championships, including the 2001 Grey Cup victory with the Calgary Stampeders. David played university football on a scholarship to Northern Arizona University (NAU) where he was a 4-year starter and a Big Sky Conference all-star. David graduated from NAU with a business degree in marketing management and currently lives in Calgary with his family, working for Husky Energy (now Cenovus). Dave currently serves as the President of the Calgary Stampeder Alumni Association.

  • Offensive Lineman | 1987, 1992–2000

    Rocco Romano, a native of Hamilton Ontario and a Bachelor of Art (Economics) graduate at Concordia University in Montreal, was drafted in the first round & 5th overall by the Calgary Stampeders of in 1987. In his fourteen-year career, he was a five-time CFL All-Canadian, a six-time West Division All-Star, a three-time nominee for the CFL Outstanding Lineman award and was a two-time winner of the award as the West Divisions Top Lineman taking home the DeMarco-Becket Memorial Trophy in 1994 & 1996. In 1997, he was awarded the Presidents Ring by the Stampeder Organization for his motivational & leadership skills on and off the field as voted by his teammates. Rocco won two Grey Cup championships with the Stampeders in 1992 & 1998 and will forever be remembered by the Calgary fans for riding the Stampeder touchdown horse at center field after the team won in 1998.

    Since his retirement in 2001 from the game he loved, he was inducted in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and inducted on the Calgary Stampeders Wall of Fame in 2008. He is a member of the Calgary Stampeder Alumni Association and has served in many capacities as Vice President, President and currently chairs The Wall of Fame Selection Committee. He's also well known for his community work with various causes and is presently employed by Strike Group in the oil & gas industry as their Manager of ESG & Community Relations.

  • Defensive Lineman | 1989–1996

    Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 5th round (138th overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. He started his career in the NFL, playing for the Chicago Bears in 1987, where he was a linebacker. Will Johnson #81, defensive lineman, 1989-1996 — Johnson was selected as a West all-star six times (1990-95) and a CFL all-star five times (1991-95). He won a Grey Cup with Calgary in 1992, was named the team's top defensive player in 1991 and 1994 and was named to the Stampeders' 50-year Dream Team in 1995. Johnson ranks first on the Stamps' all-time list with 99 quarterback sacks and recorded a career-high 17 sacks in 1995. He led the team in sacks four times, tied for the lead once and was second once. The defensive lineman notched 288 defensive tackles and 11 fumble recoveries during his eight-year career.

  • Running Back | 2007–2015

    Jon Cornish is known for his legendary nine years in the Canadian Football League where he was selected as the top Canadian player three years consecutively, Most Outstanding Player in 2013 and helped lead his team to two Grey Cup championships. During and after this unmatched, Hall of Fame career as a Calgary Stampeder, where he was only the second football player to win the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete, Mr. Cornish spent the last nine years in various wealth management roles, working as a consultant and as part of a private investment counsel wealth team. Jon is now an investment advisor and team lead at RBC Dominion Securities, where he is responsible for building client relationships, providing wealth management guidance and holistic, goal-oriented financial planning.

    Jon works with various non-profits and charities around Calgary, including as an event host for the Alberta Children's Hospital, working directly with at-risk youth for Wood's Homes, and the Calgary Foundation, where he serves on the committee of the Doc Seaman Hockey Fund. Jon also continues to work with the Calgary Stampeders as their gameday ambassador. Jon is the president of the Calgary Black Chambers, a non-profit working to make Calgary the best place to live and work for BIPOC peoples.

  • Defensive Back | 1977 –1983, 1985

    Terry Irvin played ten seasons with the CFL (1977-1986) as a left corner back (defensive back). Eight of those for the Calgary Stampeders (1977-1983, 1985), Saskatchewan Roughriders (1984-1985) and Montréal Alouettes (1986). He was best known for his outstanding record of interceptions, recoveries and returns.

    At Jackson State University, Irvin was named All-Southwestern, Black College All-American, and Pittsburgh Courier All-American. He was also selected to play in the Black College All-American Bowl Game.

    Irvin came to the Canadian Football League in 1977 after originally being drafted by the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

    Irvin snagged 62 career interceptions with the CFL and is third on the All-Time Interception list, only behind Less Browne and Larry Highbaugh; of those, he returned four for touchdowns (plus one touchdown on a fumble). Today, he still holds the single season record in Saskatchewan with 11 interceptions, and in Montréal with 12 interceptions. He is at #3 All-Time Career Interceptions for the Stampeders.

    After football, Irvin made Canada his home where he continues a successful career with Sony North America. His individual excellence, dedication, diligence, and commitment to teamwork earned him a place in the President's Club and recipient of Sony's most elite international “Samurai” award. Irvin continues to contribute to the community and is involved in the United Way, and has guest coached community players in Holzgerlingen, Germany.

  • Defensive Lineman | 1987–1992

    Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Kent Warnock grew up in Calgary and attended Lord Beaverbrook High School before going on to play for the University of Calgary Dinos. At the U of C, the towering 6'7" defensive end had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers before turning his sights to the CFL.

    Warnock was selected first overall in the 1986 CFL Draft by the Stampeders and quickly established himself as one of the most dominant pass rushers in the league. In 1989, he led the team with 14 quarterback sacks, and was named a CFL All-Star and CFL West All-Star in 1990.

    Warnock recorded 42 career quarterback sacks over his professional career. He won the Grey Cup with Calgary in 1992 before finishing his career with the BC Lions. After football, he returned to his roots, serving as defensive line coach for the University of Calgary Dinos.

  • Defensive Back | 2008–2015

    Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Keon Raymond attended Middle Tennessee State University before making his way to Calgary and becoming one of the most dependable defensive backs in Stampeders history.

    A versatile performer over eight seasons and 120 regular-season games in Calgary, Raymond saw action at various positions in the secondary and showed a consistent penchant for big plays. He recorded 337 defensive tackles, 24 interceptions, 10 sacks, and six fumble recoveries during his time with the Red and White. He was named a CFL West All-Star in both 2011 and 2012, and was later selected to the second-team All-Decade team by both the CFL and 3DownNation, while TSN named him one of the five defensive backs on their Calgary Stampeders All-Time Team.

    Raymond was part of Grey Cup championship teams in 2008 and 2014. After football, he remained deeply connected to the game and the community — Raymond founded K25 Sports, a youth sports organization designed to enstill character, self-confidence, and sportsmanship in young athletes. He and his family have made Calgary their permanent home.

  • Offensive Lineman | 2011

    Born in Three Hills, Alberta, John Bender grew up to attend Cochrane High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, shot put, and discus, earning seven provincial gold medals and a 17-and-under national shot put championship.

    Bender earned a full scholarship to the University of Nevada, where he played alongside future NFL stars Colin Kaepernick, Virgil Green, and Joel Bitonio. He was named to the All-WAC First Team in 2010 and graduated with a dual major in Marketing and Management.

    The 6'8", 325-pound offensive lineman was selected 17th overall by the Calgary Stampeders in the 2010 CFL Draft, returning home to play professionally. He was later inducted into the Alberta Schools Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2016.