Benny Boynton Benjamin Lee Boynton ( December 6 , 1898 – January 23 , 1963 ) , aka " The Purple Streak " , was a professional football player who played during the early years of the National Football League . He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1962 . He played in the NFL for the Washington Senators , Rochester Jeffersons and Buffalo Bisons . Early life . Benny was born in Waco , Texas , in 1898 , to Charles and Laura Boynton . He began his football career at Waco High School in 1912 . During his sophomore year , Boynton became the team ' s starting quarterback , and kept the job until he graduated in 1916 . While playing for Waco , he had a reputation as an accomplished halfback , an accurate and strong passer , a strong punter , and an aggressive tackler on defense . College . After high school , Benny attended Williams College in Williamstown , Massachusetts . In his freshman year , Boynton led the school ' s football team to a 7 - 0 - 1 season , for their first undefeated season in school history . At the end of the season Benny was honored with his first All - American selection . It was then that Ephs fan started referring to Boynton as “ the Purple Streak , ” a play on his quick ability and the school ' s colors , purple and gold . He sat out his sophomore season of football , instead serving in World War I as a gunnery sergeant in the United States Marine Corps . He returned to college in 1919 and was named captain of the football team , as well as the basketball and baseball teams . During his senior year , Boynton led the nation in scoring , compiling 141 points on 22 touchdown s and 9 extra point s . In one game he scoered six touchdowns during a 62 - 0 win over Trinity College . After that season , Boynton was chosen to Walter Camp ’ s All - America team . NFL . After graduating from college in 1921 , Boynton took a job at Bethlehem Steel , located in Steelton , Pennsylvania . While working there , he was recruited by Leo Lyons , manager of the NFL ' s Rochester Jeffersons . Boynton accepted Lyons offer to play for the Jeffs . Boynton played just three games for the Jeffs that season but still scored two touchdowns , eight extra points and a field goal . He also threw for three more scores . With NFL contacts not being what they are today , Boynton also played with the NFL ' s Washington Senators during the 1921 season , scoring a touchdown and three more extra points . Also in 1921 , the independent Holmesburg Athletic Club , of Philadelphia , signed Boynton for Thanksgiving Day game against the Union Quakers of Philadelphia . During the 1922 season Benny only played in one game with the Jeffs . Instead he decided to play semi - pro baseball in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania . In 1923 , the independent , pre - NFL version of the Pottsville Maroons added Benny to their roster . However he made his return to the NFL in 1924 . His return though sparked a dispute between Lyons and the new owners of the Buffalo Bisons , both parties claimed to have signed Boynton for the 1924 season . An NFL executive committee was formed to settle the issue . The committee awarded Boynton ' s services to the Bisons . Boynton helped led Buffalo to a 6 - 2 - 0 season , with a clear shot at the league title . However the team ' s title chances ended with a 6 - 3 loss to the Milwaukee Badgers . During that game Badgers ' quarterback , Red Dunn , broke through the line and headed downfield with Boynton in pursuit . On the Buffalo 10 - yard line , Dunn tried to stiff - arm Boynton . Benny grabbed Dunn ’ s arm , swung him around and wrestled him to the ground . As the Buffalo players raced to congratulate Boynton on the tackle , coach Tommy Hughitt lectured Boynton on his tackle technique , stating that if he had pulled Dunn ' s arm off , Dunn still could have scored . After football . 1924 marked Boynton ' s last season of professional football . He started an insurance business in 1925 . In 1926 he returned to Texas , and helped form the Southwest Officials Association and served as the organization first president . Over the next 14 years , he officiated the many college football games . Some of his most notable games include the first Cotton Bowl Classic ( then called “ the Dixie Classic ” ) and the second Sugar Bowl . After retiring from officiating , Boynton began a broadcasting career , where he provided radio commentary for several years . World War II . During World War II , Boynton served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve . He was appointed the Physical Training and Welfare Officer at Jacksonville Naval Air Station , where he established streamlined operating programs on several naval bases throughout the southern United States . Legacy . Rochester manager , Leo Lyons , called Boynton the second greatest football player of the era , second only to Jim Thorpe . He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in December 1962 . A month later he died from cancer at the age of 64 .