Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Inductees: Harrison Stafford

Harrison Stafford

Wharton High School

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Inducted in 1987

Stafford was a do-it-all back for Wharton, whether quick-kicking 80 yards from his own goal line, returning interceptions for touchdowns, or shaking off six tacklers on a key touchdown run. As a walk-on freshman at Texas, he became one of the Longhorns’ greatest all-around players, best remembered for a vicious block on Johnny Vaught at TCU Stadium in 1932, or a fierce tackle that caused Oklahoma’s Guy Warren to fumble, sparking a 17-7 UT win. “There has never been a man who could block, run, catch passes, and play defense like Harrison Stafford,” said UT coach Clyde Littlefield. Stafford, who excelled as a runner, blocker and defensive back, was named all-Southwest Conference three times and the league's offensive player of the year as a senior in 1932. He also made several all-America teams, played in the East-West All-Star Game, was voted to the SWC's 50-year anniversary team in 1968 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975. Stafford died on Nov. 23, 2004, at age 92.