Bill Perkins

William Osborne Perkins II (January 12, 1941 – February 5, 2016) was an American football running back in the American Football League for the New York Jets; he played college football at the University of Iowa. After his football career he became an attorney and politician who served two terms in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Perkins attended Henry Snyder High School, where he practiced football and track. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Iowa. As a junior, he played fullback, registering 62 carries for 380 yards (led the team) and 2 rushing touchdowns. His 6.1-yard average led the team and was second in the Big Ten Conference.

As a senior, he was third on the team with 48 carries for 237 yards (4.0-yard avg.) and no touchdowns. He finished his college career with 110 carries for 617 yards, a 5.6-yard average and 2 rushing touchdowns.

Perkins was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 12th round (160th overall) of the 1963 NFL Draft. He was waived in September.

In September 1963, he was signed to the New York Jets' taxi squad. On November 1, he was promoted to the regular roster. He was a backup halfback and kickoff returner. He was released on September 8, 1964.

His uncle was Don Perkins, who also played running back in the NFL. He graduated from Seton Hall Law School in 1968. He was fluent in Spanish, Russian, French, and Polish.

He was a criminal defense attorney and opened his law office in 1970. He represented Bayonne and Jersey City (the 31st district) in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1974 to 1978. He was the first African American president of the Hudson County Bar Association. He also was an assistant football coach at Saint Peter's College. In 2001, he was named the assistant director for the New Jersey Recreation Department, where he worked until 2010. On February 5, 2016, he died in Teaneck, New Jersey, survived by four children, including businessman Bill Perkins.