COLUMBIA, Miss. – The high school football letter jacket that was once worn by late NFL Hall of Famer and Jackson State University standout Walter Payton could be on its way back to Columbia High where Payton’s record breaking playing career got its’ start.
The jacket was put up for auction last week in Chicago. After learning it was for sell, alumni from the school established a gofundme internet account to raise money with the hopes of making the highest and winning bid for the jacket. Over three recent days the group had more than $4,500 to buy the memorabilia. If all goes as planned, it will be placed in the school’s trophy case. “Walter was obviously the greatest running back that ever played in the NFL and just knowing that he came from Columbia and played on the same field that is named after him today, it’s an honor for these kids to walk by this trophy case and see things that are from him, his family and his legacy,” Jay Raybun told WDAM-TV.
