OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 10) – Former Central Oklahoma football standout and UCO Hall of Famer Bobby Williams passed away last week at the age of 70.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fifth Street Baptist Church (801 N. E. 5th St.) in Oklahoma City.
Born in Geiger, Ala., Williams was a prep star at Lincoln (Neb.) High School before coming to then-Central State College in 1962. He was a four-year starter at halfback from 1962-65, helping the Bronchos to a 25-11 record and the 1962 NAIA national championship.
Williams led Central in rushing two years and finished his career with 1,572 rushing yards in 278 carries, averaging 5.7 yards a carry. He was also one of the most dangerous kickoff returners in the nation and still holds school records for most kickoff returns in a season (23) and career (53) and most kickoff return yards in a career (1,063).
An All-Conference pick as a senior, Williams finished his career with 3,094 all-purpose yards. He also lettered in track in 1964, running on a conference champion 880–yard relay team.
An 11th-round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966, Williams played six years in the NFL. He was a defensive back and kick-returner for two years in St. Louis, averaging 23.1 yards on 31 kickoff returns and intercepting two passes.
Williams was traded to Detroit in 1968, spending one season in the taxi squad, then played three more for the Lions as a defensive back/kick returner. He led the NFL in kickoff returns in 1969 with a 33.1 average that included a 96-yard touchdown return, averaged 21.7 yards a return and had one interception in 1970 and averaged 28.0 yards a return in 1971.
Williams was inducted into the UCO Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
