Wetaskiwin Hall of Fame Inductee

    Wetaskiwin born, Don Duncalfe is being inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame for being the first graduate of the Wetaskiwin High School Sabre Football program to have a professional football career.   In 1958 Don played  for the London Lords of the Ontario Rugby Football Union and   for five seasons from 1959 - 1963, Don was a member of the Edmonton Eskimos Football Team of the CFL.   During his Eskimo playing years Don played with many former Grey Cup Champions and future Canadian Football Hall of Famers. 
    Don played high school football for the undefeated 1954, 1955, 1956 Wetaskiwin Composite High School Sabres, teams that won three league championships and went 23 games without a loss.  In his grade 12 year Don was invited to attend the Edmonton Eskimo Rookie Tryout Camp and subsequently, because of his impressive showing,  was invited to the main Eskimo training camp.   After the main training camp,  Don played Junior Football with the Edmonton Huskies for the 1957 season.    That year the Huskies were Alberta Junior Football League Champions, won the Alberta-BC playoffs but lost in the Western Canada finals.  Because of his  outstanding play with the Huskies Don was  once again invited to the Eskimo training camp in 1958. This time he was assigned  to play on the Eskimos development team,  the London Lords of the Ontario Rugby Football Union.  
    In 1959, at the age of 20 and after a brilliant season with the Lords, Don earned a spot on the Edmonton Eskimo roster and played on the team from 1959-1963.   Don played various positions with the Eskimos including Defensive End, Offensive Tackle, Offensive Guard and at times Offensive Center.  He also played on the Eskimos special teams.   The most successful team during Don’s tenure with the Eskimos was the 1960 team that played in the Grey Cup  game losing to the Ottawa Roughriders 16-6. Due to injuries, Don retired after the 1963 season.
    As a professional football player with the Edmonton Eskimos, Don was a role model for young Wetaskiwin football players and brought recognition to himself, his family and his community.