Ruben Mayes in action with the Washington State Cougars during the 1985 season. (Submitted photo/Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame/Washington State University)

By Martin Martinson

Local Sports Icon

Battlefords legend, Rueben Mayes reflects on induction to Sask. Sports Hall of Fame

Apr 29, 2022 | 5:57 PM

From the community football fields of the Battlefords to the most legendary stadiums in American college football and the NFL, it’s no secret North Battleford’s Rueben Mayes is among the most accomplished athletes on the gridiron the province of Saskatchewan has seen.

That’s why it came as no surprise to see the former North Battleford Comprehensive High School football standout hear his name called to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as part of this year’s Induction Class of 2022.

It marks the latest in a long list of accomplishments for the 1986 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro-bowler, that also includes enshrinement to the Washington State University Hall of Fame (1993), and New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame (2004), in addition to being the lone Canadian-born player to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame (2008).

Ever grounded through it all however, Rueben said the recent call to Saskatchewan’s Sports Hall holds a special place, all its own.

“It’s very humbling, and I am just over the moon to be recognized in my home province,” Mayes said with his signature smile evident in his tone. “I was born and raised in North Battleford, and all those experiences helped shape me, my character, and my vision to be a professional football player. All that was formed growing up in the North Battleford area, so it brought it all back for me and it’s an amazing honour.”

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

In addition to his football legacy, Mayes was also an outstanding track and field athlete, seen here with a chest full of ribbons while competing with the NBCHS track team. Mayes won the 1981 SHSAA provincial 100-metre sprint title in a time of 10.8 seconds and set an electronically timed record of 10.87 seconds in 1982. (Submitted photo/Rueben Mayes)

After all, as the HOFer is quick to point out, it is on the football field at the local high school where those dreams were first formed. There, on the school’s practice field that now bears his name, he took his first steps on the journey of a lifetime.

“Don Hodgins was my coach and he was very prominent in my story,” Mayes said of his early years in the sport. “He had a good staff and taught us the fundamentals and we had a really good team with big kids, and we had good equipment. We were well-coached and ran the ball a lot, and that’s what really enabled us to be successful.”

And successful they were. In 1980, Mayes led the team to an unbeaten season, on their way to a Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association (SHSAA) 3A provincial football title.

Post-high school, Mayes played college football at Washington State, where he set 15 Cougars’ records with the program, including for most single season (1,632) and career rushing yards (3,519), rushing touchdowns (23), and 100-yard games (13).

A two-time Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year (1984 and 1985), Mayes finished 10^th in Heisman Trophy voting in 1984, awarded to the top player in NCAA football, all prior to his six seasons in the NFL spent with the Saints and Seattle Seahawks.

Mayes said as he reflects on his career with the recent Hall honour, it’s gratitude that overwhelms him.

“I’m grateful for all the coaches who helped me, and all my teammates who blocked for me, and I was part of some really good teams,” Mayes said. “There’s been a lot of people along the way that have been a part of that journey and my time in the NFL, my college career and high school, was so special. I just have a lot of gratitude to have been able to have all those experiences.”

Joining Mayes as athletes enshrined in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 are Prince Albert’s Harry Jerome, and Saskatoon’s Kelsie Hendry, while the Builders category will include Rosthern’s Toni Beerling and Vawn’s Bill Brownridge. More on the 2022 class can be found here.

—

Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1