Clendon Thomas

Clendon Thomas was born in Oklahoma City and played at Southeast High School. He played halfback for Bud Wilkinson on the 1955 and 1956 national title teams, led OU in scoring in 1956 and 1957, and led the nation in scoring in 1956. He was a consensus All-American in 1957 and finished ninth in the Heisman voting. The Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the second round, 19th overall, in 1958. He played four seasons there and seven at defensive back for Pittsburgh, where he made the Pro Bowl after the 1963 season. He finished with 27 interceptions. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He founded Chemical Products Corporation in Oklahoma City, which pioneered siloxane-based water repellents for concrete. He died on January 27, 2026, at 90.