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ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of one of its All-Time Argos, Jim Rountree. Jim, who passed away on October 1, 2013 following a battle with cancer, was 77 years old.
Commented Toronto Argonauts player alumnus and teammate, Peter Martin, “Jim Rountree was one of the great old-time, two-way players in the Canadian Football League. He could do it all – offence, defence. and special teams – and he still holds team records that he set in the 1960s. He will be missed.”
Rountree played ten (10) stellar seasons in Double Blue from 1958-67 and lined up primarily at cornerback, but also played receiver, running back and kick returner. During his career, the Miami, Florida native compiled 41 interceptions for 464 yards and one (1) touchdown. He was named an East Division All-Star in seven (7) of his ten years (1959-1964, 1967) and earned CFL All-Star status once (1962). He still holds the record for longest pass reception in club history at 108 yards (from Tobin Rote vs. Sask. on Sept. 10, 1961). Rountree’s ten (10) interceptions during the 1960 season still remains a single-season club record 53 years later.
Once his playing days were complete, Rountree remained a key part of the organization. He was a member of the Argonauts’ coaching staff from 1968-72 and again from 1977-78. On October 28, 2004, Rountree’s name was raised to the rafters as an All-Time Argo. In 2007, he was named as starting cornerback on the All-Time Argos team as voted by a committee of alumni, fans and media.
Jim was an all conference player at the University of Florida, later inducted to the Gator Hall of Fame (1971), before being drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1958 NFL Draft. Upon retiring from football, Jim and his longtime wife, Nan, lived in Tamarac, Florida and operated a successful Insurance Agency. Rountree is survived by his wife, two children, and three grandchildren.