Billy Wilson Billy Wilson ( February 3 , 1927 – January 27 , 2009 ) was an American football wide receiver who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 1951 to 1960 . He was named to the Pro Bowl six times . Biography . Born in Sayre , Oklahoma on February 3 , 1927 , he moved with his family to California at the age of three as his parents sought to escape the Dust Bowl that was sweeping through the prairies during the Great Depression . He attended Campbell High School and enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II . He played his college football at San José State University , and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 22nd round of the 1950 NFL Draft , the 283rd player selected overall and the seventh receiver drafted that year by the 49ers . He played his entire career , ten seasons , with the 49ers , finishing his career with 407 catches for 5 , 902 yards and 49 touchdowns , was a first - team selection to the Associated Press All - Pro team in 1957 and was Most Valuable Player of the 1956 NFL Pro Bowl . Wilson led the NFL in receptions in three seasons , with 60 catches in 1954 , 60 in 1956 and 52 in 1957 . He ranked fourth in touchdown catches , fifth in receiving yards and sixth in receptions in franchise history at the time of his death . Y . A . Tittle , a quarterback whose time with the 49ers matched up with Wilson ' s , called him " one of the fiercest competitors I ever played with " and described him as " our No . 1 receiver . " " Whenever we needed a big catch , I went to him because I knew he would make the play . " Bob St . Clair , an offensive tackle who played with Wilson for eight seasons in San Francisco , reflected on his ability to catch balls with " hands of glue " and run with the ball after making catches , calling him " probably one of the most underrated players in N . F . L . history . " Former defensive back and Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula recalled " a play Billy made when he caught a pass , leaped straight up into the air over myself and two other defenders , and ran it in for a touchdown " , describing Wilson as " one of the few players of another era that would excel today . " He was one the first 49ers players to make an impact in the NFL as a receiver , with his career accomplishments all the more remarkable in an era before rule changes that increased passing and 12 - game seasons , and playing for a team whose " Million Dollar Backfield " led by Tittle focused on the running game . Though considered an equal of Hall of Famers Raymond Berry , Tom Fears and Elroy " Crazylegs " Hirsch , Wilson has not been inducted into the NFL ' s Hall , although former 49ers coach Bill Walsh led an advocacy effort on Wilson ' s behalf . Walsh called Wilson " the top pass receiver of his time and one of the finest blockers " . Walsh said " As I ' ve seen the men inducted into the hall , including myself , I ' ve thought that Billy certainly should have been enshrined some years ago . " After retiring from the playing field , Wilson spent 30 years working for the 49ers as an assistant coach and scout . Wilson died at age 81 on January 27 , 2009 in Carlsbad , California . He had been at a hospice center , where he died of bone cancer . He is survived by his wife , two sons , two daughters , a brother and seven grandchildren .