Billy Howton obit

Billy Howton Obituary

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Billy Harris Howton

07/03/1930 - 08/04/2025

Bill Howton, husband, father, brother and good friend, passed away peacefully Monday, August 4, 2025 in Houston, Texas after a long and lucky life.

Born in Littlefield, Texas, Bill graduated from Plainview High School in 1948 and then received a scholarship from Rice University for track and field. When he moved to Houston, Rice also recruited Bill for the football team, and he began a long career in football. Bill was an All-American wide receiver at Rice, is a member of the Rice Hall of Fame, and has his name recognized on the stadium's Ring of Honor.

In 1952 Bill made two big decision – first, he married his college sweetheart, Sandra Bourgoin. And second, he signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers and joined the NFL.

Bill set numerous receiving records with the Packers, some of which still stand today, and he scored the first Packer touchdown ever at Lambeau Field. He was a Pro Bowler, and in 1973 he was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame.

After seven years in Green Bay, Bill was traded in 1959 to the Cleveland Browns, and then in 1960, upon Bill's request to return to Texas, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, the newest expansion team in the league. He played the rest of his football career in Dallas, playing for Coach Tom Landry with quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith.

Bill was also a founder and the first President of the NFL Players' Association.

Years after Bill retired from football, while on a trip to Europe, he met Carmen Fanlo, a Spanish lady from Madrid. In 1989 he moved to Madrid to be with her, and he stayed with her there for the rest of her life. After her passing in 2019 he moved back to Houston, Texas.

Bill is survived by his sister, Sylvia Baker, and by Sylvia's daughter Linda and son-in-law Fletcher. He is also survived by his three children – Karin and her daughter Katie; Kimberly and her husband Chris; and William and his wife Rita and step-daughter Gabriella. Bill was predeceased by his brother, Jack Howton, but is survived by Jack's sons, Steven, Scott and Marc.

The family will have a small private ceremony to honor Bill. The family wishes to thank the caregivers at The Village of River Oaks for their warmth, care and comfort to Bill in his last few years.

He was a two-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Packers]].

Howton played college football for the Rice Owls, earning first-team All-American honors in 1951. As an NFL rookie with Green Bay, he caught 13 touchdown passes, a rookie record that was tied but not broken until 1998.[2] Howton caught a total 503 career passes for a total of 8,459 yards. In doing so, he surpassed then leader Don Hutson to become the all-time leader in receptions and yardage. This made him the first receiver with 500 catches in pro football history. In over a half century since Howton's retirement, the dawn of improved passing has seen him drop into the top 50.

Despite his extensive credentials, he has yet to be named a finalist or semifinalist in Pro Football Hall of Fame balloting. He retired after the 1963 season, after four years with Dallas. In 2004, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class.

Howton attended Plainview High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field.

Howton was selected in the second round of the 1952 NFL draft, 15th overall, by the Green Bay Packers. As a rookie, he earned immediate comparisons with Hall of Famer Don Hutson, with his speed, sure hands, and big-play ability. He established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, with a league-leading 1,231 receiving yards.[5] He also set a rookie record with 13 touchdowns, which would last until 1965 when the total number was broken by Gale Sayers. His touchdown reception mark lasted until 1998, when it was broken by Randy Moss.

Howton became one of the most successful wide receivers in Packers history, while playing seven seasons in losing teams (26–56–2). During his seven years in Green Bay, he led his teams in receiving yards for six straight seasons (1952–57), led the league in receiving yards two times (1952 and 1956) and touchdown receptions once (1956). He caught 303 passes for 5,581 yards with an 18.4 yard average, scored 43 touchdowns and earned All-Pro in two seasons (1956–57) and Pro Bowl honors in four seasons (1952 and 1955–57).

He caught 13 touchdown passes in his 1952 rookie season. In his fifth season in 1956, Howton caught seven passes for a total of 257 yards against the Los Angeles Rams.

He set team records that still stand today:

Most receiving yards by a rookie with 1,231 yards in 1952

Highest yardage game with 257 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in 1956.

Two 200-plus receiving games - the only Packer receiver aside from Don Hutson, with four, to have more than one.

Howton was named the Packers' player representative and president of the NFL Players Association in 1958, and played a major role in establishing a pension fund for players, which was a debated topic with club owners at the time.

In January 1959, the Packers hired Vince Lombardi as head coach and general manager after the team's worst record ever (1–10–1) in 1958. In April, Lombardi traded Howton to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive end Bill Quinlan and halfback Lew Carpenter. Lombardi desired receivers who could block, which was not Howton's strength.

Howton was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1974.

During his time with the Cowboys, Howton remained a key starter in a league-leading offense, that was composed by Eddie LeBaron, Don Meredith, Don Perkins, Frank Clarke, Dick Bielski, and Lee Folkins. He led the Cowboys in receiving in 1961 (with a career-high of 56 catches) and again in 1962.

On September 29, 1963, Howton became the NFL's all-time receiving leader, after breaking Don Hutson's record for career receptions and receiving yards. He retired after the season ended.