Ken ‘Kenny’ Ploen is an icon in Manitoba’s sports history whose celebrated 11 years as quarterback with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are legendary. Born and raised in Iowa, after his entry in the Canadian Football League he made Manitoba his home. Fifty years ago, in 1957, he was recruited to Winnipeg from the University of Iowa Hawkeyes by new Blue Bomber head coach Bud Grant. From 1957 to 1967, he led the Bombers to six Grey Cup appearances and four victories. On retiring in 1967, his impressive stats included 1,080 completions of 1,916 passes attempted for 16,470 yards and 119 touchdown passes, making him the sixth all-time CFL passer and fifth all-time Bomber rusher with 2,931 yards. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1975, the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1997, among other tributes. Since retirement, Ploen has been involved in numerous volunteer and charitable activities including Folklorama and the Winnipeg Humane Society as well as serving on the boards of the Manitoba Heart Foundation, the former Society for Crippled Children and Adults of Manitoba and Rainbow Stage.
