1. Robert Gene Hickerson was an American professional football player who was an offensive guard for 15 years with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1973.
15 Facts About Gene Hickerson
1. 2.
Gene Hickerson was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 4,2007.
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Gene Hickerson was born in Trenton, Tennessee located in Gibson County, but played fullback at Trezevant High School in neighboring Carroll County.
4.
Gene Hickerson became a tackle at the University of Mississippi.
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Per the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Gene Hickerson was considered one of the best offensive linemen in Southeastern Conference history at the end of his collegiate career.
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Gene Hickerson served as co-captain on the 1957 Ole Miss team, and was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference and All-South choice.
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Gene Hickerson played in the Senior Bowl and the Chicago All-Star game.
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Gene Hickerson was drafted in the seventh round of the 1957 NFL draft by the Browns.
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Gene Hickerson was promptly shifted from tackle to the guard position on the offensive line in 1958 to better utilize his speed, which was unusually fast for a lineman and made him valuable as a pulling guard.
10.
Gene Hickerson originally 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.
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Gene 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 to 1970 and was voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1971.
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Gene Hickerson was elected to the Browns' legends team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.
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Gene Hickerson was inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame in 2007.
14.
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, Gene Hickerson was brought onstage in his wheelchair, propelled by Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown, and Leroy Kelly.
15.
On October 20,2008, Gene Hickerson died just outside Cleveland, Ohio.