Former Oilers Star Norton Dies

HOUSTON (AP) -- Four-time AFL All-Star safety Jim Norton has died.<br/><br/>An obituary released by a Dallas-area funeral home says Norton was 68 when he died June 12 in Garland. No cause of death was

Monday, June 18th 2007, 12:48 pm

By: News On 6

HOUSTON (AP) -- Four-time AFL All-Star safety Jim Norton has died.

An obituary released by a Dallas-area funeral home says Norton was 68 when he died June 12 in Garland. No cause of death was given.

The Los Angeles native was a three-sport athlete at Fullerton Union High School and played four seasons of football at Idaho before the NFL's Detroit Lions. Instead, he played for the Oilers, who won the first American Football League title that season.

Norton retired in 1969 after nine seasons with the Oilers, and he remains the franchise leader with 45 interceptions. He also punted for the Oilers, and his 519 career punts were a franchise record until Craig Hentrich passed it in 2004.

Norton's #43 is one of six jersey numbers retired by the franchise. The others are Elvin Bethea, Earl Campbell, Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews and Warren Moon.

Norton is survived by his wife, a brother, a sister, three sons and two daughters.

A memorial service was scheduled for June 29th at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Richardson, Texas.