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Ole Miss Football: Rebels Legend Arnold ‘Showboat’ Boykin Passes Away

By Daniel Skipper

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 28: The Golden Egg is lifted by members of the Mississippi Rebels following a victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi won the game 38-27. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 28: The Golden Egg is lifted by members of the Mississippi Rebels following a victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on November 28, 2015 in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi won the game 38-27. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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The Ole Miss football family lost a Rebels legend with the passing this past Thursday of former running back Arnold ‘Showboat’ Boykin.

This past Thursday the Ole Miss football family saw the passing of another Rebels legend. Arnold ‘Showboat’ Boykin peacefully passed away at his home in Brandon while surrounded by family. Boykin was retired from the US Army after 20 years of service with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Boykin first served in the Korean War and then in Vietnam.

As an artillery battalion commander in Vietnam Boykin was highly decorated earning the Legion of Merit/Oak Leaf Cluster, The Bronze Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. Boykin had participated in the ROTC program while at Ole Miss and was actually drafted for the Korean War while in the Detroit Lions training camp after being drafted by Detroit in the 1952 NFL Draft.

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Out of Greenville High School ‘Showboat’ Boykin came to Ole Miss and played for head coach Johnny Vaught from 1947 to 1951. Originally playing on the defensive line Vaught would move Boykin to running back for his senior season. On Saturday December 1, 1951 in the Egg Bowl Boykin would establish himself both on the field and in the record books. Boykin had 14 carries for 187 yards rushing and scored 7 TDs in a 49-7 win.

‘Showboat’ Boykin’s 7 TD performance on that day was a NCAA best which stood until being broken in 1990 by Howard Griffith of Illinois who scored 8 TDs against Southern Illinois. Boykin’s second place 7 TDs mark is now shared with 4 other former college players. However, his 7 single-game rushing TDs still stands as a SEC record and Ole Miss record which many college football fans believe will never be broken. Regardless, Boykin will always be a legend.

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Sincerest condolences go out to the Boykin family with the passing of Lt Colonel Arnold Boykin. Lt. Colonel Boykin was laid to rest today and is survived by his wife Mary Taggart ‘Doll’ Boykin and his three daughters, Mary B Martinez, Julie B Weber and Cheryl Ann Boykin. Rest In Peace ‘Showboat’.

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