Cleveland Vann: The ride of a lifetime
REGINA, Saskatchewan (BVM) — It was Cleveland Vann’s football career that led him to Regina in 1976. From 1976 to 1980, he played linebacker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, donning No. 72. That stellar career is what would eventually grant “Cleve” an induction into the Roughriders’ Plaza of Honour in 2000, along with Dave Ridgway and Bruce Cowie.
Vann grew up in Seguin, Texas, where his love for sports blossomed. He attended Seguin High School where he played basketball, baseball and football. Although the United States Civil Rights Act became law in 1964, it wasn’t until 1968 that Seguin High School transitioned from a segregated school to an integrated school. According to Vann, the transition was difficult.
“We were thrown into an environment that became very hostile at times,” Vann recalls.
In his senior year, Vann and his classmates became part of history as the school’s first integrated graduating class.
During his high school football tenure, Vann earned All-State, All-District and All-American honours as a running back. His performance caught the attention of college scouts, and Vann was quickly recruited by the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He attended OSU on scholarship. For his junior and senior years, Vann switched from running back to linebacker. At that position, he earned All-Big 8 Conference Awards and All-American Honours.
Following college, Vann was selected 130th overall in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, but he chose to sign with the Southern California Suns of the World Football League. He played a season and a half before the league folded. In 1976, his first year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Vann was a CFL All-Star. He was also awarded the Grey Cup MVP (despite Saskatchewan’s loss to the Ottawa Rough Riders).
That same year, Vann met his bride-to-be, Connie. The two started dating in 1977 and were married in 1983. Upon Cleve’s retirement from football, he and Connie moved their family to Texas, where Cleve became a state trooper, and Connie worked as a stockbroker assistant.
Then, in 1989, the Vann family moved back to Regina, which Cleve describes as one of the best decisions of their lives. Connie’s parents played a big role in convincing them (based on the quality of life). Another major factor was that Cleve’s job as a state trooper was becoming increasingly dangerous.
“Everyone in Texas seemed to be armed,” Connie said. “Troopers didn’t have partners, and there were no body cams back then. Cleve had a few incidents, and after that he was more inclined to move than I was!”
Cleve worked on a four-year contract with Saskatchewan Justice before moving on to SaskEnergy, where he spent 20 years and retired as the manager of Health and Safety Services in 2013.
Around five years ago, Cleve and Connie decided they wanted to downsized and live maintenance-free. So they sold their family home on the east side of Regina and moved to the Harbour Landing neighbourhood.
Since then, the couple has been enjoying condo life. For Cleve, retirement is filled with things that are good for his soul. He and Connie spend time with their four grown children and four grandchildren.
Cleve also loves to cook, finding the process very relaxing. His favourite recipe is a linguine and clam dish he calls ‘Vannguine’. He credits it to his friend and fellow Rider alumni, Mike Strickland, who cooked the meal for him a few times.
Riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle is another of Vann’s favourite pastimes. He especially enjoys riding with his motorcycle ‘gang’, The Señor Riders, a group of Roughrider alumni that includes Vann, Steve Mazurak and Al Johns. The Señor Riders meet weekly in Regina for shorter rides, and they take a big road trip each summer. Motorists might spot them on the streets or highways: they have retro, green-and-white Rider logo patches on their motorcycle jackets.
