Oct. 17, 2003

by Skip Foreman, The Associated Press

CHERRYVILLE, N.C. -- Charlie "Choo-Choo" Justice, twice a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy while piling up yardage as an elusive running back at North Carolina in the late 1940s, died this morning.

Justice was 79. Family friend Hugh Morton says Justice had been in declining health for the last five years. Justice died at his home in Cherryville.

When he completed his four years at Chapel Hill in 1949, Justice gained 48-hundred-83 yards running and passing. The record that stood for 45 years until quarterback Jason Stanicek topped it in 1994.

In 1948, Justice was second to Doak Walker of SMU in the Heisman Trophy balloting. The next season, Notre Dame's Leon Hart got the award ahead of Justice.

Justice went on to play for the Washington Redskins from 1950-1954. Last year, he was honored as one of the team's greats during its 70th anniversary celebration.

Justice also was the first athlete named to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.