When you look at sports history, there are a lot of franchises that stand out in their winning legacy of what they have left behind.  Not only are some of these franchises still dominating in their respected sport presently, but they are also franchises that stood the test of time with a winning history in every decade of their existence.  Most of these franchises have had very little drought stretches of either not winning a championship and or long playoff droughts.

We can look at the New York Yankees with their 27 World Series Championships and 40 American League Pennants.  One of the most sacred parts of Yankee Stadium is Monument Park where all the best New York Yankees are embedded in history.

We can look at the Boston Celtics with their 17 Larry O’Brien Trophies, 10 Eastern Conference Titles, 32 Division Titles, and 23 retired numbers. 

We can look at the Montreal Canadiens with their 24 Stanley Cups, 8 Conference Championships, 24 Division Championships, and 18 retired numbers.  

We can look at the formally called Edmonton Eskimos now the Edmonton Elks in the same category with 14 Grey Cup Championships, 23 Western Division Championships, and currently 38 players on the Edmonton Wall of Honour that have worn the EE logo proudly.  

With that being said, on Saturday, August 13th, 2022, the Edmonton Elks will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a game where 3 more Edmonton greats will be honoured for their achievements wearing the green and gold and will be enshrined in the Edmonton Wall of Honour Class of 2022.

Jim Germany

The product from New Mexico State played his whole CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos (1977-1983).  He would also be part of the Edmonton Dynasty where he would go on to win 5 Grey Cups in a row from 1978-1982.  The Edmonton backfield was solid with both Jim Germany and fellow teammate Neil Lumsden during 1980, 1981, and 1982 seasons.    

CFL Career Highlights:

• Part of the five-in-a-row teams, winning five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982
• Franchise records:
  • Most rushing touchdowns in a single season (18 in 1981)
  • Most rushing touchdowns in a single game (4 on August 1, 1981, vs. Hamilton)
• Other notes from the EE record book:
  • 4^th in all-time rushing yards (5,730)
    • One of only four players in franchise history with 5,000+ yards rushing
  • 4^th longest rush in franchise history
    • 96 yards (TD) on July 27, 1977 at Winnipeg
  • 3^rd all-time in rushing touchdowns (65)

• CFL Honors:
  • honors1979 CFL West All-Star
  • 1981 CFL West All-Star & CFL All-Star
• Posted three 1,000-yard rushing seasons (1977, 1979, 1980)

CFL Career Stats:

• 92 career regular season games
  • 1,082 carries
  • 5,730 rushing yards
  • 65 rushing touchdowns
  • 172 receptions
  • 1,642 receiving yards
  • 6 receiving touchdowns

Joe Hollimon

​Out of the Arkansas State, the utility player also played his whole career with the green and gold (1976-1985).  He will now be joined with fellow defensive backfield teammate Larry Highbaugh on the Wall of Honor.  He was also instrumental in the success of Edmonton winning 5 Grey Cups in a row.

CFL Career Highlights:

• Led the CFL in interceptions in 1982 with nine
• 1978 CFLPA Top Defensive Back

• Franchise records:
  • Most interception returns for a touchdown (7)
  • Most kick returns in a single game (8 on October 31, 1976, vs. Calgary)
  • Most kick return yards in a single game (239 on October 31, 1976, vs. Calgary)

• Notes from the EE record book:
  • 2^nd in interception returns for a touchdown in a season (4 in 1978)
  • 3^rd in most interception return yards in a season (228 in 1978)
  • 3^rd in career interception return yards (689)
  • 5^th in career interceptions (36)

• CFL Honors:
  • Three-time CFL West All-Star (1976, 1978, 1982)
  • CFL All-Star (1978)

CFL Career Stats:

• 136 career regular season games with the EE
  • 36 career interceptions with EE for 689 return yards
  • 7 interception returns for a touchdown
  • 2 career punt return touchdowns

Ed Jones

In keeping up with the theme of the Edmonton Dynasty from 1978-1982, Edmonton will also include another player in the defensive backfield in honouring Ed Jones. Both Ed Jones and Joe Hollimon were part of a secondary that made quarterbacks encounter the difficult task in the passing game.  The front 7 of the Edmonton defense might have got all the glory, but when you look at Jones, Hollimon, and Highbaugh, they played big roles in the Alberta Crude Defense.   

CFL Career Highlights:

• Part of the five-in-a-row teams, winning five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982
• Led the CFL in interceptions with 10 in 1980
• Notes from the EE record book:
  • T-2^nd most interceptions in a season (10 in 1980)
  • T-1^st most interceptions in a single game (3 on Sept. 7, 1980, vs. Hamilton)
  • T-1^st most interception returns for a TD in a single game (2 on Sept. 7, 1980, vs. Hamilton)

• CFL Honors:
  • Four-time CFL West All-Star (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)
  • Three-time CFL All-Star (1979, 1980, 1981)

CFL Career Stats:

• 110 career regular season games with the EE
  • 31 career interceptions with EE for 355 return yards
  • Three interception returns for a touchdown
  • 7.5 sacks
  • 7 fumble recoveries

Welcome to the Edmonton Wall of Honour Jim Germany, Joe Hollimon, and Ed Jones.  It is a much-deserved accolade in all of your accomplishments in pro football.  You wore the Edmonton jersey with great pride, and it showed on the field day in and day out.  You will be forever part of the fabric of the Edmonton sports scene.   

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