CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Billy Vessels, the elusive Oklahoma halfback who won the 1952 Heisman Trophy, died November 17. He was 70.

He died at his South Florida home after a long illness, said his son, Billy. Vessels had lung, heart and prostate problems.

	Billy Vessels won the Heisman Trophy in 1952.

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 was born in tiny Cleveland, Okla., where he still is revered.

	Vessels' OU rushing totals
	Year	Att	Yds	TD
	1950	135	870	15
	1951	27	143	1
	1952	167	1072	17
	Total	329	2085	33

"Everybody knows who he is," said Lester "Tate" Hager, who was co-captain of the Cleveland High School football team when Vessels was captain. "It's going to be sad news for the whole town."

Hager said he's kept in touch with Vessels, whom he calls "Curly. He tried to reach him by telephone two weeks ago, but Hager said he spoke to only Vessels' wife.

"He was an awful nice person," Hager said. "On a scale of one to 10, I'd have to give him a 10. There wasn't a selfish hair on his head.

"He was the best football player I've ever known."

University of Oklahoma president David Boren called Vessels his boyhood hero and a hero of an entire generation.

"In many ways, he exemplified the best of the Sooner spirit," Boren said. "He has been an important adviser to me on athletics ever since I became president of the university and played an important role in helping us turn around our football program."

OU co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops got to meet Vessels in January, the day after the Sooners beat Florida State for the national championship.

Vessels was too ill to attend the game, so Stoops went to his home and watched the game tape. For lunch, they went to Vessels' country club and ate with former Miami Dolphins stars Bob Griese, Dick Anderson and Nick Buoniconti.

"It was an honor for me to meet him. He appreciated what we did for Oklahoma," Stoops said. "You could tell how proud he was, being around all those three guys."

Vessels 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.

A memorial service is set for Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church in Coral Gables.