Jerry Norton

Jerry Ray Norton (May 16, 1931 – January 14, 2020) was an American professional football safety and punter in the National Football League. He attended Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas, where he played football and basketball and was named All-state in both sports. In football he was a two-way player as a running back and defensive back. As a senior he was selected to participate in both sports' All-star games, but chose only basketball, because that invitation arrived first.

Norton accepted a scholarship from Southern Methodist University, where he led the team in rushing as a sophomore with 438 yards. As a junior he led the team in both passing and rushing, gaining 383 yards on the ground, and was one of the nation's top punters. In 1952 he played only on offense.

In the NFL he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. He was selected to five Pro Bowls.

In 2007 he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. Jerry Norton died on January 14, 2020, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 88.