Vitamin Smith | |
Number: | 77 |
Position: | Halfback |
Birth Date: | 30 October 1923 |
Birth Place: | Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. |
Death Place: | Lake Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
Height Ft: | 5 |
Height In: | 8 |
Weight Lbs: | 179 |
High School: | Sweetwater (TX) Ventura (CA) |
College: | Abilene Christian |
Teams: |
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Highlights: | |
Statlabel1: | Rushing yards |
Statvalue1: | 669 |
Statlabel2: | Receiving yards |
Statvalue2: | 1,025 |
Statlabel4: | Kick return yards |
Statvalue4: | 1,453 |
Statlabel5: | Punt return yards |
Statvalue5: | 814 |
Statlabel6: | Total touchdowns |
Statvalue6: | 23 |
Verda T. "Vitamin" Smith, Jr. (October 30, 1923 – February 14, 2000) was a National Football League (NFL) running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1949 through 1953.
Smith served in the United States Army and participated in the Battle of Normandy before enrolling at Abilene Christian University where he sprinted, threw javelin and played college football for the Wildcats.[1] In the NFL, Smith was a return specialist. In 1950, he set a record by returning three kicks for touchdowns in a single season. That record would stand until 1967.[2]
Verda T. Smith married Myra Pearce, daughter of Mr. and Mr.s Herman F. Pearce, in Ventura, California on August 15, 1946. He was a student at Abilene Christian College at the time.[3]