Paul Leslie Cameron, BHS 1950, BHS, UCLA Hall of Fame

Paul Leslie Cameron, BHS 1950

Paul Cameron, a 1950 graduate of Burbank High School, and a two-time First Team All-American tailback at UCLA from 1951-53 and a 2024 electee to the College Football Hall of Fame, passed away December 22, 2023. He was 91.

 "We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Paul Cameron," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "He was one of the greatest players of his generation. Playing in the era of one platoon football, Paul Cameron did it all while leading the Bruins to the Rose Bowl. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the many people who he influenced during his time in Westwood."

A two-way player and one of the last great single-wing tailbacks, Paul Cameron possessed natural speed and remarkable instincts, enabling him to play on offense, defense, and special teams at UCLA in the early 1950s. The Burbank, California, native was named Jan. 8 as the 14th Bruin player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame. He will now be posthumously inducted Dec. 10 during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas.

A triple threat as a powerful rusher, passer and punter, Cameron amassed 3,332 yards of total offense during his career, earning First Team All-America honors in 1952 and consensus laurels in 1953 at tailback. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1953 and sixth in 1952.

A three-time First Team All-Conference selection, he rushed for 1,451 yards and 19 touchdowns during his career while passing for 1,881 yards and 25 touchdowns. A two-time most valuable player for UCLA, he set seven school records, including most career touchdown passes (25), most total offense (3,332 yards) and most career touchdowns (44).

Cameron led the conference in scoring with 12 touchdowns in 1953 as well as rushing with 134 carries for 672 yards. In 1951, he led the conference in total offense, rushing for 597 yards and passing for another 855 for a total of 1,428 yards and averaging 158.7 per game.

 On special teams, he returned nine kickoffs, averaging 20.2 yards per return, and he averaged 13.1 yards on 23 punt returns. He also punted, averaging 41.3 yards per punt in 1953, placing him third in the nation. On the opposite of the ball, he played defensive back, leading the Bruins with four interceptions in 1953.

 UCLA went 21-6-1 during his three seasons in Westwood, including winning the Pacific Coast Conference in 1953 and appearing in the Rose Bowl against Michigan State, which was the first game televised nationally in color. The Bruins finished at No. 5 in the final 1953 AP Poll with an 8-2 record and at No. 6 in 1952 with an 8-1 record. His No. 34 UCLA jersey has been retired, and he was a charter member of the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.

 Selected in the eighth round (91st overall) of the 1954 NFL Draft, Cameron played defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1954 before heading to the CFL to play for the BC Lions from 1956-59.

 After playing football, Cameron entered the entertainment industry, becoming a vice president of production with EMI Television. He worked for Disney Productions, Tomorrow Entertainment, and Allied Artists. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56. He was a member of the Screen Directors' Guild, the Encino Property Owners Association and the UCLA Scholarship Committee.