Billy Vessels was born on March 22, 1931 in Cleveland, Oklahoma, USA. He was married to Suzanne Wilson. He died on November 17, 2001 in Coral Gables, Florida, USA.
In September 2002, the high school football stadium in Cleveland, Oklahoma (Vessels' hometown) was dedicated as Billy Vessels Memorial Stadium.
Winner of the 1952 Heisman Trophy.
Played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (which later became the Canadian Football League's Western Conference) in 1953.
Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1974; first winner from the University of Oklahoma.