Happy birthday to the late Billy Vessels, who would have turned 93 years old on Friday.
The Cleveland native was Oklahoma’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1952. He was the second overall pick of the NFL Draft that same year.
Vessels on Nov. 17, 2001 (less than a year after OU football’s last national championship), at age 70.
Take a look back at his life and legacy here:
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels is No. 35 pictured at right. Photo via The Oklahoman archives
Billy Vessels (35) is off on a 35-yard run around right end in Oklahoma’s 27-18 win over Colorado in Denver, Nov. 4, 1950. He was tackled moments later by Bill Case (86) of Colorado. Ed Lisak of the Sooners is also shown, behind Lisak. (AP Photo)
Billy Vessels, one of the stars of the University of Oklahoma football team, relaxes with Karen Viering of Tulsa in front of her sorority house in Norman, Okla., Oct. 18, 1950. Vessels, from Cleveland, Okla., scored both touchdowns in Oklahoma’s 14-13 victory over Texas in Dallas last Saturday. (AP Photo)
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Remembering OU’s first Heisman winner Billy Vessels on his birthday
Tulsa World, The Oklahoman archive and AP file photos Mar 22, 2024 0
Happy birthday to the late Billy Vessels, who would have turned 93 years old on Friday.
The Cleveland native was Oklahoma’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1952. He was the second overall pick of the NFL Draft that same year.
Vessels on Nov. 17, 2001 (less than a year after OU football’s last national championship), at age 70.
Take a look back at his life and legacy here:
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels is No. 35 pictured at right. Photo via The Oklahoman archives
Billy Vessels in 1950
Billy Vessels in 1950
Billy Vessels (35) is off on a 35-yard run around right end in Oklahoma’s 27-18 win over Colorado in Denver, Nov. 4, 1950. He was tackled moments later by Bill Case (86) of Colorado. Ed Lisak of the Sooners is also shown, behind Lisak. (AP Photo)
Billy Vessels in 1950
Billy Vessels in 1950
Billy Vessels, one of the stars of the University of Oklahoma football team, relaxes with Karen Viering of Tulsa in front of her sorority house in Norman, Okla., Oct. 18, 1950. Vessels, from Cleveland, Okla., scored both touchdowns in Oklahoma’s 14-13 victory over Texas in Dallas last Saturday. (AP Photo)
Billy Vessels in 1951
Billy Vessels in 1951
Texas tackle Bill Wilson (77) grabs a shirt and tackle Charles Petrovich goes for the ball as they throw Oklahoma halfback Billy Vessels for a ten yard loss on a lateral pass play in the first quarter of their game in Dallas, Texas, Oct. 13, 1951. Other Texas players are Glenn Price (33) and tackle J.T. Seaholm (79). Texas won, 9-7. (AP Photo/Bob Scott)
In this Oct. 13, 1951, file photo, Texas tackle Bill Wilson (77) grabs a shirt as tackle Charles Petrovich, right, goes for the ball as they throw Oklahoma halfback Billy Vessels for a 10-yard loss on a lateral pass play in the first quarter of a college football at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. (AP Photo/Bob Scott, File)
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