Kenneth Hall

Charles Kenneth Hall (December 13, 1935 – March 2025), nicknamed "Sugar Land Express", was an American professional football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL), National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL). Playing for the Sugar Land High School Gators (Sugar Land, Texas) from 1950 to 1953, Hall established 17 national football records, several of which still stand.

Early life Hall's career prep rushing record of 11,232 yards (1950: 569 yd; 1951: 3,160 yd; 1952: 3,458 yd; 1953: 4,045 yd) stood until 2012, when it was broken by Derrick Henry (Yulee, Fl.), while his single-season rushing record had been broken in 1996 by Travis Henry (Frostproof, Fl.). His 32.9 points per game (1953/12) remains a national record. His record of (38) 100-yard games was tied by Steve Worster of Bridge City, Tx. in 1966, but was not broken until the mid-1980s by Emmitt Smith (Escambia, Fl.), whose record later was broken in 2011 by Rushel Shell of Hopewell, Pa. Hall also finished his career with 14,558 yards of total offense (11,232 rushing/3,326 passing), a record that would last until being broken by future Major League Baseball player J. R. House (Nitro, WV) in 1998.

He played in 34 total games, serving as a half back and occasional punter. He rushed for 212 total career yards on 51 carries, with 8 receptions for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. He made 11 punt returns for 164 yards and a touchdown, as well as 31 kick returns for 833 yards and one touchdown. He punted 14 times for 448 yards.

Death On March 14, 2025, it was announced that Hall had died at the age of 89.

Legacy and honors In 1983, Hall was placed in the National High School Hall of Fame. Hall also belonged to the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. In 1999, Hall was honored by All American Games with the creation of the Hall Trophy. The Hall Trophy (molded in Hall's likeness) is presented annually to an outstanding football player on a nationwide level. Some past winners include Chris Leak, Adrian Peterson, Mitch Mustain, and Terrelle Pryor. During the 1980s, Hall was sales manager for Sweetener Products Company, a large wholesale sugar distributor in Southern California. He lived in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Records Hall still holds the following Texas state records:

Single-season rushing yards (4,045/1953; this was accomplished in 12 games, and Hall remains the only Texas running back to rush for over 4,000 yards in one year) Rushing per game (337.1 yards/1953/12) Points per game (32.9/1953/12) Career rushing (11,232 yards/1950–53)