Ernest Lamour 'Wheels' Wheelwright was born in Columbus, Ohio on November 28, 1939 and attended Southern Illinois University. He had several careers but is chiefly remembered as an American football player who played as a running back for the New York Giants(1964–65), Atlanta Falcons(1966–67) and the New Orleans Saints(1967–70). Ernie Wheelwright died of cancer in Las Vegas on May 1, 2001 aged 61.