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November 11, 2016

Deron Mayo wins Presidents’ Ring

Linebacker Deron Mayo during a game on July 29, 2016 (Photo by David Moll)

The Calgary Stampeders are pleased to announce that linebacker Deron Mayo is the recipient of the team’s Presidents’ Ring award for 2016.

The Presidents’ Ring has been presented annually since 1967 to the Stampeders player who best demonstrates excellence on and off the field as voted by the players. Candidates are judged on their in-game contributions, leadership, inspiration and motivational skills.

“It is my honour to accept the Presidents’ Ring,” said Mayo. “There are so many of my teammates who represent what this award is about. My leadership is a result of the encouragement and time that others have invested in me.

“Firstly, I’d like to thank God for giving me the courage and for being so amazing in my life. I thank the Stampeders organization and my fellow teammates for giving me an opportunity to lead and for believing in me.  Thanks to my wife, Janelle, for the persistent motivation to be great and to lead by example. I thank my family, for their steadfast love and support. Lastly, I’d like to thank our team chaplain Rodd Sawatzky, for the mentorship that he has provided so that I am able to lead.

“My goal is to continue to encourage my teammates, my family and my supporters across the city of Calgary to ‘be the light’ for the people around them.”

In his fifth season with the Stampeders, Mayo served as one of the team captains and he recorded a team-leading 77 tackles in 16 games. He also added a sack, three special-teams tackles, five knockdowns and a fumble recovery.

For his career, Mayo has accumulated 277 tackles, 33 special-teams tackles, 14 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and six fumble recoveries. He was a starter for the Stamps’ Grey Cup-championship team in 2014.

The 28-year-old Hampton, Va., native is an active member of the community and in 2015 he launched his own initiative called Memories with Mayo, a program that sees him make weekly visits to Ronald McDonald House, which provides a home away from home for families who need to travel to Calgary for a child’s medical treatment. Mayo is also a regular on the Stamps basketball team that makes visits to local school during the off-season and he takes part in numerous other community activities.

“Since joining the Red and White in 2012, Deron has continued to grow as a player and as a leader,” said Stampeders president and general manager John Hufnagel. “Deron’s determination and his contributions on the field as well as in the locker room make him an excellent choice for the Presidents’ Ring.”

Hall-of-Famer Wayne Harris was the first winner of the Presidents’ Ring and 32 different men have been presented with the award. Henry Burris, Danny Barrett and Stu Laird won the award on three occasions while two-time winners are Rob Cote, Keon Raymond, Jay McNeil, Alondra Johnson, Harris, Allen Pitts, Lloyd Fairbanks, Bernie Morrison, Ed McAleney, James Sykes, Willie Burden and Jerry Keeling.