This week in Petroplex Region history.
Cedric Myron Benson, born on December 28, 1982
Cedric Myron Benson, born on December 28, 1982, in Midland, Texas, was an American football player known for his eight-year career as a running back in the NFL. Emerging as a standout at Abell Junior High School and later at Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Benson set records with 8,423 rushing yards, leading his team to three consecutive State Championships. At the University of Texas, he earned recognition as a first-team All-American, winning the 2005 Rose Bowl. Selected fourth overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft, Benson faced challenges but contributed to the team, playing in Super Bowl XLI. He later played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, showcasing his prowess. Benson’s life was marked by both athletic achievements and legal controversies.Tragically, on August 17, 2019, he lost his life in a motorcycle crash in Austin, leaving behind a legacy commemorated through a mentorship program at Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy in Midland.
