Colonel William A. Phillips

Linwood Wray Carlton (born June 18, 1937) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in both Canada and the United States. He played college football for the Duke Blue Devils.

Unable to come to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles, who had selected him in the 1959 NFL Draft, Carlton traveled to Toronto and the Canadian Football League (CFL) to play for the Argonauts. His Canadian career lasted only four games before he declined a trade to Vancouver, British Columbia, and went home. But another league and another opportunity was in his future.

In his early years with the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL), Carlton formed a virtually unstoppable backfield tandem, first with Elbert "Golden Wheels" Dubenion, then with Carlton Chester "Cookie" Gilchrist.

On September 18, 1960, in Buffalo's home opener, a 27–21 loss to the Denver Broncos, Carlton made history in the second quarter when he scored the team's first touchdown on a one-yard run. Carlton gained 1,010 yards from scrimmage (533 rushing and 477 receiving) and 11 touchdowns in the Bills first season.

Carlton briefly retired following the 1963 season, but re-signed with the Bills in July 1964.^[1]

Later he helped the Bills win back-to-back league championships in 1964 and 1965. Perennially among the AFL's top rushers, he led the league in rushing touchdowns in 1965 and was voted to the American Football League Eastern Division All-Star team in 1965 and 1966. Carlton was the Bills' all-time leading rusher during their AFL years, with a 4.1 yards per carry average. He was cut from the team in the 1968 preseason; he, along with Dubenion (who finished the 1968 season then retired), were the last players from the Bills' inaugural season still on the roster.

Carlton was inducted into The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2008^[2] and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.^[3]

References

^ "Carlton to Play for Bills". New York Times. July 3, 1964. p. 14. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
^ The Greater Wilmingon Sports Hall of Fame
^ North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

[1963Retirement-1] "Carlton to Play for Bills". New York Times. July 3, 1964. p. 14. Retrieved November 7, 2020.

[2] The Greater Wilmingon Sports Hall of Fame

[3] North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

[1]

[2]

[3]

Buffalo Bills 1964 AFL champions
3 Pete Gogolak 12 Daryle Lamonica 15 Jack Kemp 20 Bobby Smith 22 Charley Warner 23 Gene Sykes 24 Booker Edgerson 25 Ollie Dobbins 26 George Saimes 30 Wray Carlton 34 Cookie Gilchrist 40 Ed Rutkowski 42 Butch Byrd 43 Joe Auer 44 Elbert Dubenion 45 Hagood Clarke 46 Ray Abruzzese 47 Willie Ross 50 Al Bemiller 51 John Tracey 53 Walt Cudzik 55 Paul Maguire 58 Mike Stratton 60 Dave Behrman 64 Harry Jacobs 66 Billy Shaw 67 Joe O'Donnell 70 Tom Sestak 72 Ron McDole 73 George Flint 74 Tom Keating 75 Dudley Meredith 77 Stew Barber 78 Jim Dunaway 79 Dick Hudson 81 Bill Groman 83 Hatch Rosdahl 84 Ernie Warlick 85 Glenn Bass 88 Tom Day
Head Coach: Lou Saban
Assistant Coaches: Joe Collier John Mazur Jerry Smith

Buffalo Bills 1965 AFL champions
3 Pete Gogolak 12 Daryle Lamonica 15 Jack Kemp 20 Bobby Smith 22 Charley Warner 23 Gene Sykes 24 Booker Edgerson 26 George Saimes 27 Tom Janik 30 Wray Carlton 32 Donnie Stone 33 Billy Joe 40 Ed Rutkowski 42 Butch Byrd 43 Joe Auer 44 Elbert Dubenion 45 Hagood Clarke 46 Bo Roberson 48 Pete Mills 49 Floyd Hudlow 50 Al Bemiller 51 John Tracey 52 Bill Laskey 55 Paul Maguire 56 Marty Schottenheimer 58 Mike Stratton 60 Dave Behrman 64 Harry Jacobs 66 Billy Shaw 67 Joe O'Donnell 70 Tom Sestak 72 Ron McDole 73 George Flint 74 Tom Keating 75 Dudley Meredith 76 Henry Schmidt 77 Stew Barber 78 Jim Dunaway 79 Dick Hudson 80 Charley Ferguson 81 Bill Groman 82 Paul Costa 84 Ernie Warlick 85 Glenn Bass 88 Tom Day
Head Coach: Lou Saban
Assistant Coaches: Joe Collier John Mazur Jerry Smith

See also

References