Billy Vessels, football player, 70

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Saturday November 17 12:08 PM ET 

1952 Heisman Winner Vessels Dies

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) - Billy Vessels, the elusive Oklahoma halfback
who won the 1952 Heisman Trophy, died Saturday. He was 70. 

He died at his South Florida home after a long illness, said his son,
Billy. 

Vessels was an All-American in 1952 and was the first Oklahoma player
to win the Heisman. In 1950, he led Oklahoma in rushing and receiving,
helping the Sooners capture their first national title. He was a member
of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

A leg injury ended a brief professional career after stints with the
Baltimore Colts and the Canadian Football League. 

Vessels finished the 1952 college season second in the nation in
rushing with 1,072 yards and second in scoring with 108 points. He was
honored as AP back of the year. 

He was a two-time all-conference selection who set school records for
rushing yards, scoring and all purpose yards in a season. 

Vessels, who was born in Cleveland, Okla., became involved in horse
breeding in the late 1970s. He served on the Florida Pari-mutuel
Commission from 1976-83 and later became its executive director. 

He was elected president of the National Association of State Racing
Commissions in 1984 and served as director of the Florida division of
pari-mutuel wagering from 1987-89. 

Funeral arrangements have not been completed. 

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