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University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Mourns Passing of Clendon Thomas
January 27, 2026 | Football
NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma mourns the passing of former running back Clendon Thomas, a College Football Hall of Famer who was pivotal member of Oklahoma's dominant football teams of the mid-1950s and who won two national championships with the Sooners. He was 90.
Thomas played football at Oklahoma from 1955-57 under head coach Bud Wilkinson and was a unanimous All-American in 1957. A major contributor to OU's 47-game winning streak, he helped lead the Sooners to a 31-1 overall record, three consecutive unbeaten Big 7 conference championships and national championships in 1955 and '56. Thomas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
An Oklahoma City native who attended Southeast High School, Thomas rushed for 2,156 yards while averaging more than 6.3 yards per rush in each of his three seasons at OU. A two-time All-Big 7 performer, he led the nation in scoring in 1956 and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1957.
Thomas was a dynamic athlete who averaged more than nine yards every time he touched the ball and scored on nearly one out of every 10 plays. He compiled 3,209 all-purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns on 355 touches between rushes, receptions, kick returns and interception returns. Thomas rushed for 485 yards and eight touchdowns in 1955, before exploding for 817 rushing yards, 241 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns (13 rushing and four receiving) in 1956. In 1957, he rushed for 816 yards and nine touchdowns, earning All-America status.
A second-round pick in the 1958 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Thomas played 11 seasons with the Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in 137 career games and compiled 27 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. He had eight interceptions, totaling 122 return yards, and recovered two fumbles in 1963 to earn second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection. He also spent parts of three seasons on offense, totaling 60 receptions for 1,046 yards and four touchdowns.
Thomas was the founding president of Putnam City Schools Foundation and served on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' national board of directors. He also served on the selection committee for Armed Services Academies and as an executive board member of the Jim Thorpe Association. Thomas, who was enlisted in the Army Reserves for six years, founded and operated Chemical Products Corp. for 25 years.
Thomas played football at Oklahoma from 1955-57 under head coach Bud Wilkinson and was a unanimous All-American in 1957. A major contributor to OU's 47-game winning streak, he helped lead the Sooners to a 31-1 overall record, three consecutive unbeaten Big 7 conference championships and national championships in 1955 and '56. Thomas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
An Oklahoma City native who attended Southeast High School, Thomas rushed for 2,156 yards while averaging more than 6.3 yards per rush in each of his three seasons at OU. A two-time All-Big 7 performer, he led the nation in scoring in 1956 and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1957.
Thomas was a dynamic athlete who averaged more than nine yards every time he touched the ball and scored on nearly one out of every 10 plays. He compiled 3,209 all-purpose yards and 34 total touchdowns on 355 touches between rushes, receptions, kick returns and interception returns. Thomas rushed for 485 yards and eight touchdowns in 1955, before exploding for 817 rushing yards, 241 receiving yards and 17 total touchdowns (13 rushing and four receiving) in 1956. In 1957, he rushed for 816 yards and nine touchdowns, earning All-America status.
A second-round pick in the 1958 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Thomas played 11 seasons with the Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in 137 career games and compiled 27 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. He had eight interceptions, totaling 122 return yards, and recovered two fumbles in 1963 to earn second-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection. He also spent parts of three seasons on offense, totaling 60 receptions for 1,046 yards and four touchdowns.
Thomas was the founding president of Putnam City Schools Foundation and served on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' national board of directors. He also served on the selection committee for Armed Services Academies and as an executive board member of the Jim Thorpe Association. Thomas, who was enlisted in the Army Reserves for six years, founded and operated Chemical Products Corp. for 25 years.
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