**For Immediate Release**
Former OPSU Football Great Jerry Linton Passes Away
by Scott Puryear of Aggie Sports on 02/03/06

Goodwell, OK - Fans and Friends of Oklahoma Panhandle State University are saddened by the death of Jerry Linton on January 28th.

A two time NAIA All-American (1961, 1962) Linton will always be known as a fine human being as well as one of the all-time great running backs in the state of Oklahoma.
In 1961, Linton led the country in rushing with a nine game total of 1,270 yards. In 1962, he repeated as the national rushing champion with 1,483 yards in ten games. A splendid overall athlete and a very tough football performer who played both offense AND defense, Linton rushed for 4,839 total yards in his Aggie career (1959-1962).

In the six football seasons from 1958 through 1963, Oklahoma Panhandle State boasted three of the top running backs in the entire country – Junior Wolf, Linton and Jim Holder. In 2004, Wolf and Linton served as the Grand Marshals for the OPSU Homecoming Parade and were also honored at a special ceremony during the football game that followed. Holder died in service of his country in Viet Nam and Wolf is retired and living in Oregon.

To this very day, Linton’s All-America certificate hangs in a place of honor in the trophy case in Oscar Williams Fieldhouse on the OPSU campus. There are also two photos of “Number 47” on display, one of which pictures Linton in the way Aggie football fans will always remember him . . . fearlessly blasting through the line on his way to a touchdown.

Oklahoma Panhandle State University thanks the Linton family for the honor of having Jerry Linton as a student athlete at the school and shares in the sadness of his passing.