Billy Vessels, who was awarded the 1952 Heisman Memorial Trophy, died Saturday 17 November 2001 at 70 years old after a long illness. Vessels was the first Oklahoma player to win the Heisman.

In 1950, Billy helped the Sooners capture their first national title, leading Oklahoma in rushing and receiving. He finished the and second in scoring with 108 points. He was a two-time all-conference selection who set school records for rushing yards, scoring and all purpose yards in a season. He was an All-American in 1952 and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. His professional career with the Baltimore Colts and the Canadian Football League was cut short by a leg injury. Vessels was born in Cleveland, Oklahoma and became involved in horse breeding in the late 1970s. After serving on the Florida Pari-mutuel Commission from 1976-83, he became its executive director. In 1984, he was elected president of the National Association of State Racing Commissions. From 1987-89 he was director of the Florida division of pari-mutuel wagering.