Matson, "Ollie" (Oliver A.)
Football
b. May 1, 1930, Trinity, TX
At the University of San Francisco, Matson set an NCAA record by rushing for 3,166 yards in 3 years as a starter. He led the nation with 1,566 yards and 21 touchdowns in 1951, his senior season.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Matson ran on the U. S. silver medal 4 by 400-meter relay team in the 1952 Olympics and won an individual bronze in the 400-meter run. Right after the Olympics, he joined the NFL's Chicago Cardinals.
Matson was named an all-pro defensive back in his rookie year, though he was also used on offense and ran back 20 kickoffs for 624 yards, a 31.2 average, and 2 touchdowns. He spent the 1953 season in the army, then returned to the Cardinals in 1954 and was used primarily as a running back.
In 1958, Matson led the NFL in kickoff returns, running back 14 kickoffs for 497 yards, a 35.5 average, and 2 touchdowns. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams after that season and spent four years there. The Rams sent him to the Detroit Lions in 1963 and, after a year there, he finished his career with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1964 through 1966.
Matson played 14 NFL seasons and only twice was he on a winning team. Yet he piled up impressive numbers, accounting for a total of 12,799 yards from scrimmage and on returns.