Preacher Pilot

James Isaac "Preacher" Pilot Jr. (January 22, 1941 – January 2, 1991) was an American football player. He played for the New Mexico State Aggies football team from 1961 to 1963.[1] He led the country in rushing yardage in both 1961 with 1,278 yards and in 1962 with 1,247 yards.[2][3][4] He was the first player since Tom Harmon to lead the country in rushing yardage in consecutive years.[5] He also led the NCAA major colleges in scoring with 138 points (13.8 points per game) in 1961.[6]

Preacher Pilot
Born:(1941-01-22)January 22, 1941
Kleberg County, Texas, U.S.
Died:January 2, 1991(1991-01-02) (aged 49)
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Halfback
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
CollegeNew Mexico State
High schoolKingsville HS
AFL draft1963 / Round: 14 / Pick: 112
Drafted byKansas City Chiefs
NFL draft1963 / Round: 5 / Pick: 63
Drafted bySan Francisco 49ers
Career history
As player
1964–1966Indianapolis Warriors / Fort Wayne Warriors / Montreal Beavers
1966Norfolk Neptunes
Career highlights and awards
  • NCAA rushing leader, 1961 & 1962

Pilot grew up in Kingsville, Texas. He initially attended the University of Kansas on a basketball scholarship and, after one year, transferred to New Mexico State.[7] He was inducted into the New Mexico State Athletics Hall of Fame.[8] He died in 1991 at age 49 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

See also

References
  1. "Preacher Pilot". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  2. "1961 Leaders". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  3. "1962 Leaders". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  4. "Aggies' Preacher Pilot Meditates On A Season Just Past". Albuquerque Journal. November 25, 1962. p. C2.
  5. "Preacher Pilot Storming Back". Hobbs Daily News-Sun. November 7, 1962. p. 6.
  6. ESPN College Football Encyclopedia (2005), p. 1265.
  7. Robert Creamer (October 29, 1962). "Pistol Pete Meets Preacher Pilot". Sports Illustrated.
  8. "US Bank/NM State Athletics Hall of Fame". New Mexico State Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
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