Gene Hickerson
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |||||
Career information | |||||
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High school: | Trezevant (TN) | ||||
College: | Ole Miss | ||||
NFL draft: | 1957 / Round: 7 / Pick: 78 | ||||
Career history | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||
Robert Gene Hickerson (February 15, 1935 – October 20, 2008) was an American professional
Biography
Collegiate career
Hickerson was born in Trenton, Tennessee located in Gibson County, but played fullback at Trezevant High School in neighboring Carroll County. Hickerson became a tackle at Ole Miss. He was considered[by whom?] one of the best offensive linemen in Southeastern Conference history at the end of his collegiate career.
Professional career
Gene was drafted in the seventh round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Browns. He was promptly shifted to the guard position on the offensive line in 1958 to better utilize his speed. He was used as a "messenger" guard by Coach Paul Brown, or a guard that delivered the plays in the huddle, while blocking for Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly. But after three seasons in the league, he broke his leg in 1961 and fractured the leg again later in the season while watching a game from the sidelines.
After missing two games in 1962, he recovered from the injury and never missed another game in his professional tenure. Hickerson only earned accolades after Jim Brown had retired and he was blocking for Leroy Kelly, but he earned first-team all-
In 2007, during his induction at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and already suffering from the health problems that plagued the final years of his life, including dementia,[2] Hickerson was brought onstage in his wheelchair, propelled by Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly. It was announced as "one last time, Gene Hickerson leads Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly." He was inducted by his friend and former teammate at The University of Mississippi and the Cleveland Browns, Bobby Franklin.
Death
On October 20, 2008, Hickerson died just outside Cleveland, Ohio.[3][4] The Browns added a "GH" tribute badge to their helmets for the 2008 season in his honor. he died at 10:20 AM
References
- ^ "Hall of Very Good Class of 2003". Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ Matt Crossman (2011-07-11). "John Mackey and other retired NFL players experience living hell". sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
- ^ Plain Dealer article: "The Gene Hickerson Story: The hard times of a tough Cleveland Brown"
- ^ Gene Hickerson, 73, Browns Hall of Fame guard, is dead; The Plain Dealer, October 20, 2008