Willie Belton Jr. was born in Greenville, South Carolina on December 12, 1948. He attended Washington High School in Greenville, where he was the team's starting quarterback for four years.[2]
He attended Maryland Eastern Shore, where he was converted to running back and in 1968 became the first freshman in school history to lead his team in scoring.[2] This ended his college career, however, as after the season he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, in which he served until July 1971, based at Okinawa and Japan.[2]
Professional football career
Home again in Greenville, the city in which the Falcons held their annual training camp, Belton was recommended for a tryout to head scout Tom Braatz by his mother's employer.[2] Braatz remembered Belton's name and signed him to an NFL contract.[2]
During his rookie 1971 season, Belton returned kickoffs, setting a club record with an average return of 25.2 yards, including two returns of over 50 yards and a 57 yard punt return nullified by penalty.[2] Belton saw action in all 14 games for Atlanta both in 1971 and 1972.[3]
Belton signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for the 1973 season, but only saw brief action in three games.[3] Similarly in 1974 he only made it on the field on five occasions, carrying the ball 12 times for 49 yards.[3]
Life after football
After his time in the NFL was over, Belton's life spiraled downwards due to drug use and crime, for which he spent time in prison.[1]
Willie Belton died December 5, 1992, in Greenville. He was 43 years old at the time of his death and left a wife and two sons.[4]
