EDMONTON, AB – It’s a badge that pays tribute to everything that has come before.
The Elks unveiled their 75th season logo today, as well as some of their plans to celebrate the milestone season. It’s difficult to make a logo that encapsulates 75 years of history, but according to the alumni of the Double E, the emblem fits the bill.
“It’s beautiful. It’s really nice. I enjoyed it. Like I say, and I’m going to say it over and over again, I’m a proud fan of the EE and I’m a proud supporter of the Edmonton Elks,” Henry ‘Gizmo’ Williams said. “I love that logo. It’s really great. It brings back a lot of memories. It’s touching when you see some of (moments) that happened because you can’t believe you were a part of that.”
“I think it touches everything that you want in a logo. It’s got the city, 75 years, a very successful organization,” three-time Grey Cup Champion Sean Fleming said. “The logo itself looks like the 1970s version, which I like quite a bit, so it’s got some classic memories to it. I think they did a really good job. I think people are going to enjoy it.”
The badge will be used by the team for the entirety of the 2024 season, and will be worn on the Elks helmets for the home opener against Saskatchewan. The logo is just a small piece of a larger celebration of the clubs history that will occur over the course of the year, spearheaded by the Elks and their Alumni association.
Henry ‘Gizmo’ Williams, Sean Fleming, and Derrell ‘Mookie’ Mitchell mingle in the EE Locker Room
A LEGACY PASSED DOWN
Throughout the history of the Double E, tradition has always been passed down by the legends who came before. The greats helped set a tone of what it means to be a member of the Green and Gold and their impact still permeates inside the locker room at Commonwealth to this day.
The alumni will be a major piece of the Edmonton Elks 75th season celebration. Derrell “Mookie” Mitchell spoke about the impact club legends like Ed Hervey, Jason Tucker, Singor Mobley, Ricky Ray, and others had on him when he first joined the team. He credited them in instilling a lasting sense of brotherhood, in the locker room, and on the field.
As the current President of the EE Alumni Association, Mitchell plans to show the same commitment as those legends did in helping keep the tradition of the EE alive.
“We will continue to support the team throughout the season. From community outreach to participation in special events, the alumni will be there every step of the way,” Mitchell said. “Together, we will honor the past, present and pave the way for the future of the Edmonton Elks.”
The alumni’s commitment to the Elks was on full display at Monday morning’s media event. Legends and representatives of the team, from all different eras, packed the locker room as a show of support for what’s to come this season.
The Kickoff to 75 Dinner presented by Sentinel Storage and the Legends Autograph session prior to the Elks June 8 Home Opener are expected to be the largest gatherings of alumni in club history.
Edmonton Elks Board Chair Tom Richards speaks at the 75th season logo press conference on Monday
“There’s a great number of alumni in the room that truly care about this organization and we’re all going to be getting together and celebrating 75 years,” Edmonton Elks board chair Tom Richards said at the press conference.
Richards knows the value of the history of the EE and what being an alumnus means, having suited up for the team from 1986 to 1990.
“For myself, I was a young fan in high school of the Green and Gold and went on to play some amateur football. I always looked in wonderment on these guys that were in the Double E. A couple years later, after listening to the thunderous applause while being in the stands, I was on the field and got an opportunity to listen to the thunderous applause.”
“It’s a great perspective, but it came with a responsibility that you just feel this extra bit of pressure being a part of such a great football city. Our team, our city, you felt that responsibility.”
MORE ON THE 75TH SEASON