Mario DeMarco played college football at Miami (Florida) from 1945 to 1949 and then signed with the Detroit Lions of the CFL for 1949. Demarco played one season with the Lions and then came North to the CFL. Demarco played two years with Edmonton (1951-52) and four years with Saskatchewan (1953-56). DeMarco won three West All-Stars (1951, 1952 and 1954) at offensive guard - there were no CFL All-Stars until 1962. DeMarco was killed in a plane crash on December 9, 1956 coming back from the Shrine All-Star game in Vancouver. Three other Roughriders were killed in that crash (Mel Becket, Gord Sturtridge, and Ray Syrnyk) along with Winnipeg Blue Bomber Calvin Jones. The DeMarko - Becket Memorial Trophy was founded in 1957 and was initially given to the Outstanding Lineman in the West, and is not awarded to the Outstanding Offensive Lineman in the West.
Wikipedia Article on Mario DeMarco
Article on the 1956 Plane Crash
1956 Plane Crash Engraved on a Nation
| Year | Team | GP |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | EDM | 14 |
| 1952 | EDM | 13 |
| 1953 | SASK | 5 |
| 1954 | SASK | 14 |
| 1955 | SASK | 9 |
| 1956 | SASK | 10 |
No official games played stats were kept in the West until 1964.
