Gene Hickerson
 Hickerson (left) with Robert Jackson in 1979 | |
| No. 66 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive Guard |
| Career information | |
| College: | Mississippi |
| NFL draft: | 1957 / Round: 7 / Pick: 78 |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Robert Gene Hickerson (February 15, 1935 - October 20, 2008) was a former American Football offensive guard who played for the Cleveland Browns in a fifteen-year career from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1973. Hickerson was a six-time Pro Bowler from 1965 to 1970. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 3, 2007. He was inducted by his friend and former teammate at The University of Mississippi and the Cleveland Browns, Bobby Franklin, on August 4 2007 in Canton, Ohio.
Biography
Collegiate career
Playing fullback at Trezevant High School, Hickerson became a tackle at Ole Miss. He was considered 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-NFL honors five straight seasons from 1966-1970 and was voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1971. During his career, Hickerson's Browns never experienced a losing season and was a starter in four NFL title games, including a 1964 NFL Championship win over the Baltimore Colts 27-0. During Gene's 10 pro seasons, the Browns featured a 1,000-yard rusher every season but one. They also had the NFL's leading rusher seven seasons of those ten. He was elected to the Browns' legends team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.
During his induction at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, and already suffering from the health problems that plagued the final years of his life, Hickerson was brought onstage in his wheelchair, propelled by Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelley. It was announced as "one last time, Gene Hickerson leads Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelley." Many previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame displayed deep emotional reactions to this presentation, and the audience that day at Canton was moved to thunderous applause.
Death
[1] On October 20, 2008, Hickerson died in peace just outside of Cleveland, Ohio.[2] The Browns have added a "GH" tribute badge to their helmets for the 2008 season in his honor.
References
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- Bittersweet Day for Former Rebel
- Gallery of Gene Hickerson's football cards