May 10, 2007
DALLAS - Two former Mustangs were honored this week, as Jerry LeVias was named the Touchdown Club of Houston Touchdowner of the Year and Jerry Norton was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
When he signed with SMU in 1965, LeVias broke the racial barrier by becoming the first African-American high school football player to sign with a Southwest Conference school. At SMU he made athletic and academic All-America teams, led the SWC in receiving yards and contributed to SMU's SWC title in 1966. He continued his football career in the NFL and is now president of LeVias Enterprises, Inc., in Houston.
The Touchdowner of the Year is given annually for extraordinary contributions and outstanding achievements reflecting honor and sportsmanship to football over a lengthy period of time. Previous winners include Jess Neely (1967), Kyle Rote (1968), Darrell Royal (1969), Bear Bryant (1971), Dana X. Bible (1972), Dutch Meyer (1975), Matty Bell (1976), Sammy Baugh (1977), John David Crow (1979), Bobby Layne (1980), Doak Walker (1981), Roger Staubach (1984), Bill Yeoman (1987), Tom Landry (1990), Grant Teaff (1993), Dave Campbell (1996), Gene Stallings (1997), Earl Campbell (1998), R.C. Slocum (1999), Spike Dykes (2001), Ken Hatfield (2002), Hayden Fry (2005) and Mack Brown (2006).
LeVias will be honored at 7 p.m., Wed., Aug. 15, at the JW Marriott in Houston. For tickets, call (713) 849-9860.
Norton, who went on to become a first-team all-SWC running back at SMU in 1952, led Texarkana High to its first district championship in 37 years as a prep, rushing for 1,398 yards and passing for 600 more. He was a two-time All-state pick for the Tigers. As a defensive back in the NFL, Norton made the Pro Bowl five times and still is the only player to intercept four passes in a game twice.
Norton is the 22nd SMU player or head coach enshrined in the Hall since the Hall's inception in 1968.
Mustangs In The Texas High School Hall of Fame
Ed Bernet, Highland Park
Bill Forester, Dallas (Woodrow Wilson)
Hayden Fry, Odessa
Forrest Gregg, Sulphur Springs
Glynn Gregory, Abilene
Sid Halliday, Dallas (Woodrow Wilson)
Craig James, Houston (Stratford)
John Kelley, Mineola
Louie Kelcher, Beaumont
John LaGrone, Borger
Lance McIlhenny, Highland Park
Jerry Norton, Texarkana
Francis Pulattie, Waco
Jerry Rhome, Dallas (Sunset)
David Richards, Highland Park
Rusty Russell, Highland Park
Kyle Rote, San Antonio (Jefferson)
Billy Stamps, Corsicana
Maco Stewart, Corsicana
Doak Walker, Highland Park
Val Joe Walker, Seminole
Bobby Wilson, Corsicana
