This week in Pine Belt history.
Walter Payton, Columbia native, died November 1, 1999
Walter Payton, born in Columbia, Mississippi, died on November 1, 1999. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1987. Payton set several NFL records, including most career rushing yards at the time of his retirement. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls and was named NFL Most Valuable Player in 1977. Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Beyond his football career, he was involved in charity work and community service. His connection to Columbia is marked by his early life and upbringing in the city before he went on to a professional sports career. Payton’s legacy remains important both locally in Columbia and nationally in sports history.