Tribute to Billy Howton
HOUSTON – Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star and a pioneer in the NFL, has passed away at the age of 95. He was well-regarded as one of the most effective wide receivers before the Super Bowl era and served as the founder and first president of the NFL Players Association.
Howton died on Monday in Houston, as confirmed by Bradshaw Carter Funeral Home on Friday.
Born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930, Howton was thought to be the oldest living NFL player at the time of his death.
“We are saddened by the passing of Billy Howton,” noted the NFLPA in a statement on x. “He played a crucial role in forming the NFLPA and championing player rights. His efforts as the first president have allowed today’s players to have a voice concerning pensions, disability benefits, and other aspects of the football industry.”
Howton made history by scoring the Packers’ first touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He was selected by the Packers in 1952 and, after accumulating 1,231 yards in his rookie season, became the first NFL rookie to reach 1,000 receiving yards. He was recognized by the league twice, participated in four Pro Bowls, and garnered All-Pro honors twice.
He set the single-game franchise record for Green Bay with 257 yards in a match against the Los Angeles Rams in 1956. By the time he retired in 1963, he held the record for most receptions (503) and receiving yards (8,459) in NFL history. He was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1974.
“In my opinion, Howton was the hardest receiver to defend in the National League,” remarked Hall of Fame Safety Emlent Tunnel, who played for the Packers just before the 1958 season.
In 1959, Howton was traded to the Cleveland Browns and later to the Dallas Cowboys, where he was part of the team’s inaugural squad.
A dedicated figure in the early NFLPAs, Howton attended all player representative meetings from 1956 to 1961. He represented the Packers at the first NFLPA conference in 1956, bringing forth a list of four demands, including the necessity for clean towels and equipment for practice.
He was elected as the organization’s first president in 1958, going as far as threatening to invoke antitrust laws against the NFL if a pension system for retired players was not established. The league ultimately implemented a pension plan in 1959.
Howton was a notable athlete at Rice College and was honored in the Rice Hall of Fame. He is survived by three children: Karin, Kimberly, and William.
