 stephen "steve" w. van buren (december 28, 1920 â august 23, 2012) was a professional american football halfback who played for the philadelphia eagles of the national football league (nfl) from 1944&ndash;1951, and was elected to the pro football hall of fame in 1965. ==early life== van buren was born in la ceiba, honduras but, after he was orphaned as a boy, he was sent to live with relatives in new orleans. from warren easton high school in new orleans, he received an athletic scholarship to louisiana state university, where he led the nation in points (110) and touchdowns (16) as a senior. ==professional career== ===philadelphia eagles=== a first-round draft pick in the 1944 nfl draft, van buren ran for 444 yards in nine games during his first season with the philadelphia eagles. he also led the league in returning punts as a rookie. the following season, van buren led the nfl in rushing for the first time. he would win three additional rushing crowns in 1947, 1948 and 1949, becoming the first running back in nfl history to achieve three consecutive rushing titles. in 1948, he scored the 50th touchdown of the eagles' season, setting the record for most touchdowns scored in a season. jim brown (1957â1961, 1963â1965) twice, earl campbell (1978â1980
1920_births 2012_deaths American_football_running_backs American_football_safeties American_people_of_Honduran_descent Deaths_from_pneumonia Honduran_emigrants_to_the_United_States LSU_Tigers_football_players National_Football_League_players_with_multiple_rushing_titles People_from_La_Ceiba Philadelphia_Eagles_players Players_of_American_football_from_Louisiana Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame_inductees Sportspeople_from_New_Orleans,_Louisiana