BUTCH WILSON A Crimson Tide champion who contributed wherever Alabama needed him. A 1959 graduate of Hueytown High School, George Marvin “Butch” Wilson III went on to play for Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and helped Alabama win the 1961 national championship. He contributed as a running back, defensive back, and kick returner. His performance in the January 1, 1962 Sugar Bowl showed what that versatility meant. Wilson intercepted an Arkansas pass in the second quarter and returned it 17 yards, setting up the field goal that gave Alabama a 10–0 lead. Late in the game, he intercepted another pass near the Alabama goal line, helping preserve the Crimson Tide’s 10–3 victory and perfect 11–0 finish. He also rushed for 23 yards on five carries. The following season, Wilson won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded to the conference’s outstanding blocker. He also returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in Alabama’s 38–0 victory over Auburn. His football journey continued in the NFL, where he played tight end for the Baltimore Colts from 1963–67 and the New York Giants from 1968–69. He finished with 25 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns. After football, Wilson returned home and built a sporting-goods business in the Bessemer area. His family remembered not only the player and businessman, but a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Butch Wilson passed away on April 3, 2026, at age 84. A national champion. An SEC blocking-award winner. A player whose contributions reached far beyond one position. Remembering Butch Wilson. Roll Tide.