Renfro, Melvin L.
Football
b. Dec. 30, 1941, Houston, TX
Renfro was a consensus All-American halfback at the University of Oregon as a junior in 1962 and he made The Sporting News All-American team in 1963. He was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1964 NFL draft.
A two-way player in college, Renfro became a defensive back with the Cowboys and also returned kicks during the early part of his career. As a rookie, he led the league with 32 punt returns, 418 yards on punt returns, 40 kickoff returns, and 1,017 yards on kickoff returns. He also intercepted 7 passes and scored 2 touchdowns, 1 on an interception return and 1 on a punt return.
Renfro led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 1969, returning them for 118 yards. An All-Pro in 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, and 1973, he played in ten consecutive Pro Bowls, from 1964 through 1973.
He retired after the 1977 season with 52 career interceptions, 3 of which he ran back for touchdowns. Renfro returned 109 punts for 842 yards, a 7.7 average, and 1 touchdown, and ran back 85 kickoffs for 2,246 yards, a 26.4 average, and 2 touchdowns.