Billy Wilson, a football and basketball standout at San Jose State College and a member of the university’s Sports Hall of Fame, died at the age of 81 in Carlsbad, Calif., on January 26.

    Born in Sayre, Oklahoma on February 3, 1927, Mr. Wilson was considered one of great local athletes of his era starting at Campbell (Calif.) High. He enrolled at San Jose State in 1945 and played freshman football before serving as a Navy quartermaster for a 19-month tour of duty in the Pacific.

    Upon Mr. Wilson’s return, he played varsity football and basketball for the Spartans. At 6-foot-3, 193-pounds, he was known as “Snuffy” and was considered big for his time, especially playing the end position.

    “...He has the fastest offensive charge on the team, is a ruthless blocker and vicious defensive player,” according to the 1950 San Jose State College football media guide. Mr. Wilson teamed with quarterback Gene Menges to form one of the most effective passing combinations in West Coast college football during the 1948 through 1950 seasons. The Spartans were 24-10-1, won the 1949 Pasadena Bowl and averaged 30.0 points.

Mr. Wilson’s football prowess was so outstanding that the San Francisco 49ers claimed his draft rights after his junior season in 1949. He was selected in the 22nd round as the 283rd player chosen in the 1950 National Football League draft.

A physical education major at San Jose State, Mr. Wilson would join the Spartans’ basketball team after the football season. Playing the center position, he was a member of the 1950 and 1951 teams. The 1951 squad was the first San Jose State team to play in Madison Square Garden and later in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.

“Everybody loved him and people loved to be around him. He worked as hard as anybody on the team. He was a good rebounder and Bill had a good hook shot,” said teammate George Clark, the Spartans’ starting center on the basketball team. “He made it tough on you, because was such a good scrambler. He was a very unselfish player.”

Mr. Wilson played his entire professional football career with the 49ers and arguably was the organization’s first great pass catcher. In his 10 seasons from 1951 through 1960, he was a Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection six times. His 407 receptions, 5,902 receiving yards and 49 touchdown catches were long-standing team career records.

Upon retirement as an active player, he remained with the 49ers in various capacities including assistant coach and college scout.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Shirley, and the Wilson family. I thoroughly enjoyed Billy’s friendship and his incredible support of San Jose State athletics in what Dick Tomey, in football, and our administration is accomplishing,” said Tom Bowen, who was a San Francisco 49ers team executive and worked with Mr. Wilson before taking over as San Jose State’s director of athletics in December 2004.

“He leaves a legacy at San Jose State as one of the first great offensive receivers to be a part of Spartan football and a member of one of the best eras of San Jose State basketball.”

Mr. Wilson is a member of the San Jose State Sports Hall of Fame, the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame and the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; brother Ernie Wilson; sons Wynn and Gregg Wilson; daughters Holly Raley and Tracy Anderson; and seven grandchildren.

According to a San Francisco Chronicle report, in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the San Jose State football program.