Professional Football Player. For four seasons (1951 to 1954), he played at the halfback position in the National and Canadian Football Leagues with the Chicago Cardinals and Toronto Argonauts. Born Billy (also spelled Billie) Jarrel Cross, he attended Canadian High School in Texas and played collegiate football at West Texas A&M University. Cross, who made his initial imprint in sports during his high school years continued his athletic excellence on the college level as he set a team record of 2,474 rushing yards while with the Buffaloes. Selected by the Cardinals during the 24th-round of the 1951 NFL Draft, he appeared in 36 regular season games and totaled 826 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns. Ironically dubbed the "Canadian Comet" as a reference to the Texas town which he hailed from, he enjoyed his most successful season as a professional football player in the Canadian Football League. In 1954 while with Toronto, Cross achieved All-Star status. After retiring from football, he went onto become a longtime teacher in his native Texas. Cross was inducted into the West Texas A&M University Hall of Champions in 1988.
Professional Football Player. For four seasons (1951 to 1954), he played at the halfback position in the National and Canadian Football Leagues with the Chicago Cardinals and Toronto Argonauts. Born Billy (also spelled Billie) Jarrel Cross, he attended Canadian High School in Texas and played collegiate football at West Texas A&M University. Cross, who made his initial imprint in sports during his high school years continued his athletic excellence on the college level as he set a team record of 2,474 rushing yards while with the Buffaloes. Selected by the Cardinals during the 24th-round of the 1951 NFL Draft, he appeared in 36 regular season games and totaled 826 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns. Ironically dubbed the "Canadian Comet" as a reference to the Texas town which he hailed from, he enjoyed his most successful season as a professional football player in the Canadian Football League. In 1954 while with Toronto, Cross achieved All-Star status. After retiring from football, he went onto become a longtime teacher in his native Texas. Cross was inducted into the West Texas A&M University Hall of Champions in 1988.
Bio by: C.S.
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