Over 20 years ago, the USC Trojans’ copy of O.J. Simpson’s Heisman Trophy, won in 1968, was stolen from the university. On Thursday, the trophy was finally returned to the school after an Apple Valley man was sentenced on a felony count of receiving stolen property last week.
The man, Lewis Eugene Starks Jr., originally pleaded not guilty last September on the charge but changed his plea on June 30 and was sentenced the same day.
The trophy was returned to the school in three pieces, the same way it was found by police in December 2014.
During the 1968 season, O.J. Simpson led the country in rushing attempts (383), rushing yards (1,880) and rushing touchdowns (23.) He easily won the Heisman Trophy, beating out Purdue running back Leroy Keyes and Notre Dame quarterback Terry Hanratty.
Simpson then went on to be drafted first overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1969 NFL Draft. He played in the league for 11 seasons before being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985.
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