DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Let's Don't Forget GENE this Weekend

I've have come across articles about Gene Hickerson & his past due special day....Here's one from Leroy....you old Dawgs might enjoy


Welcoming Committee: Gene Hickerson





By Leroy Kelly
Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1994

The NFL's rushing leader in 1967 and 1968, former Browns running back Leroy Kelly welcomes guard Gene Hickerson, who helped pave the way for the Browns' run game, to the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor for a football player. With all of the struggling and hard work you went through during your career, this makes it all worth it.

I was one of three Browns running backs that went to the Hall of Fame: Bobby Mitchell, Jim Brown and me. One of the guys that was always there in the middle, was you, Gene. I think it is a shame that it took so long for you to get recognized. You linemen were never in the limelight, and it's a shame that people tend to focus on the guys like wide receivers. But I always appreciated what you did. I'm sure today's linemen appreciate it, too, now that they are being recognized and getting paid.

Gene, you weren't that large, maybe around 260 pounds, but you were really fast and had all of the fundamentals. You had the speed to get outside, a low center of gravity, and you were able to keep the big guys away from the quarterbacks and running backs.

I remember running the 22- or 23-trap up the middle. Most of the teams ran a 4-3 defense, so the quarterback would fake the pitch to the outside running back and hand off to the opposite back. The defensive tackle wouldn't take the fake, so it was up to you to make that block, which you did about 90 percent of the team. You always got your man. When Jim Brown retired, Ernie Green moved to the fullback position and I moved to tailback and we both made the Pro Bowl. That was a tribute to you guys on the offensive line. That was also the first time that you made the Pro Bowl.

Gene, I always admired your personality. You were a happy-go-lucky guy and I never saw you mad. You were always hanging out by yourself, but you were liked by everybody. You were a great teammate and helped keep the atmosphere loose with some jokes or pranks. You really kept us in great spirits.

My first memory of you was at my first training camp. I didn't realize how hot it was going to be out there. But there was only one guy who had the air conditioning in his room, and that was you. I noticed that right away. I said to myself, that is one smart guy right there.

It's a shame that this honor came to you so late, and in the condition that you are in. I don't know how much you will understand, but all of us members of the Browns are proud of you. I saw the list of players who will be there and it's nice that everybody is able to get together. It's all a tribute to you. I remember my own induction, as I had two busloads of friends and family from my old neighborhood out there. That's why I'm glad so many Browns will be there for you. People tend to forget about the Browns and what we did back then. With all of the guys in town doing interviews, this will be good for the team.


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10274920

Quote:

---

With all of the guys in town doing interviews, this will be good for the team.

---

Kelly certainly showed with this quote that once a Brown, always a Brown.

Quote:

---

and it's a shame that people tend to focus on the guys like wide receivers.

---

..Once a RB always a RB....



Awsome speach, Gene will deserved, long over due, They may offically enter you into the Hall of Fame this weekend, gene, but to us Browns fans, you were and have always been there,

Congrates # 66.......

congratulations gene, thank you for your hard work in supporting the proud traditions of being a cleveland brown

current ol: take notice, be dominating, start a legacy of your own

Congratulations Gene Hickerson #66.. HOF '07

Don't forget.. 6:00 p.m Saturday August 4th, ESPN: ENSHRINEMENT- Class of 2007 - Gene Hickerson, Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Roger Wehrli (Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium)

from USAToday , yesterday

After 34 years, Browns' Hickerson pushes way into Hall

CLEVELAND (AP) — Long before entourages became fashionable, Jim Brown had his own personal bodyguard.
Gene Hickerson protected the Hall of Fame running back from harm.

Next time you watch any old black-and-white NFL footage of Brown, Cleveland's great No. 32 weaving his way toward the end zone on a long touchdown run, there's a good chance No. 66 — Hickerson — was out front or alongside.

"Gene was the leader of a great line," Brown said, "and the greatest downfield blocker in the history of pro football."

And finally, years, if not decades after he probably should have been inducted, the 72-year-old Hickerson will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, an overdue tribute to the Browns' pulling right guard who blocked for three Hall of Fame backs.

Unusually quick for his size, Hickerson, a country boy from Mississippi, anchored Cleveland's offensive line for 15 seasons. Throughout the 1960s and into the early 1970s, Hickerson opened holes for Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell — all Hall of Famers — who would have never amassed as many yards or as much acclaim if not for Hickerson's bone-jarring blocks.

"As far as I'm concerned he should have been in 20 or 30 years ago," said Browns teammate Jim Houston. "He had the ability. Gene was always low key except when it came time to protect Jim Brown or Leroy Kelly. Brother, he did that."

At 6-foot-3, 248 pounds, Hickerson was small by today's gargantuan standards for an NFL lineman, but his athleticism, balance and speed allowed the Browns to utilize the former high school running back on plays toward the sidelines.

"The Browns ran a lot of sweeps with Gene," said former Browns offensive tackle Doug Dieken, a close friend and former teammate of Hickerson. "Gene could run with any running back, they didn't have to slow down for him to set up his block. He could also pass block, but when he got out there on the corner or down the field, it was like one of those smart bombs.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: NFL | Cleveland | Hall of Fame | Browns | Pro Football Hall of Fame | Jim Brown | Doug Dieken | Jim Houston | Bobby Mitchell | Hickerson
"That defensive back was toast."

Drafted in the sixth round in 1957 — the same year Cleveland took Brown with its first pick — Hickerson proved to be one of the most durable players to ever snap on an orange helmet. He played behind former Steelers coach Chuck Noll for one season before taking over the starting job in 1959.

He broke his leg in the 1961 preseason opener, and then re-broke it later in the season while standing on the sideline. After sitting out two games in 1962, Hickerson never missed another game before retiring in 1973.

Hickerson was named an All-Pro five straight years (1966-70) and was voted to the Pro Bowl six consecutive seasons (1966-71). During his time in Cleveland, the Browns never had a losing record.

Before Hickerson's arrival, only seven rushers in league history had ever reached 1,000 yards. In his first 10 seasons, the Browns had a 1,000-yard rusher nine times and the league's leading rusher on seven occasions.

"He was an exceptional athlete, and always on his feet," said Dieken. "You would watch the (game) film and be in awe. He was the standard for what a pulling guard is all about."

Yet despite that glittering resume and testimonials from Brown and others of his worthiness to be elected, Hickerson was bypassed by voters for 29 years.

Brown has his theory on why.

"We're human beings," he said. "Sometimes we don't see what's right in front of our faces. It wasn't because of Gene's talent."

His long omission gnawed at the soft-spoken Hickerson, whose health has deteriorated in recent years.

However, Hickerson rarely grumbled aloud about not making the Hall, said his best friend, Bobby Franklin, a former college and pro teammate, who will present Hickerson at the Saturday induction ceremonies.

"Gene never said much but I know it really bothered him. He would usually make a joke about it, though," Franklin said on the phone from his home in Mississippi. "Somebody would ask Gene, 'When are you going to get to the Hall of Fame?' And Gene would say, 'I'm going to drive down there tomorrow."'

Hickerson's joking only masked a deep disappointment he felt in not getting elected for so many years. Though a worthy candidate, he was often edged out because of more high-profile names on the ballot.

"Hickerson's 15 years of modern era eligibility coincided with some of the sport's greatest Hall of Fame classes," said Tony Grossi of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer, a Hall voter. "It was tough for a guard to get in against the likes of O.J. Simpson and Pete Rozelle, and others, in the 1980s.

"Many offensive linemen of his time were tossed into the pool of deserving players who fell through the cracks. And then the wait becomes even longer for that logjam to be broken up."

Hickerson's long wait is finally over, but because of health issues, he can't appreciate it as much as he would have years earlier.

"It's going to be special," Franklin said. "But it's also a sad time, too, because Gene can't enjoy it as much. But he's in."

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Good for Gene. Hope he enjoys it as much as he deserves to.

JB had a bodyguard? Hmm.. would this be him?

Speaking for myself as a Browns fan since 1953, it's long, long, overdue in coming. Gene if anyone ever deserved to be in the HOF...........you're THE MAN!!!! God speed!

let's dont forget?

how about, lets not forget Gene HIckerson.

fastest lineman ever.

Unfortunately ...... Gene may not remember.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1186131550237460.xml&coll=2

A life interrupted
On Saturday, thousands will gather to recall the greatness of Gene Hickerson - memories he can no longer share Friday, August 03, 2007Tony GrossiPlain Dealer Reporter
ll living members of the 1964 Browns NFL championship team gathered for a weekend three years ago to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the last major Cleveland sports team championship.

At an autograph signing session that weekend, guard Gene Hickerson, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, couldn't remember his last name.

Dick Schafrath, a longtime friend, first thought Hickerson was putting people on. He was known for doing things like that. But Schafrath quickly learned otherwise and discreetly wrote "Hickerson" on memorabilia placed in front of them

Later in the weekend, the players sat on the Severance Hall stage in Cleveland for a big bash commemorating the team. Each was asked to reminisce in front of a rapt audience.

Bobby Franklin, a defensive back with the Browns who quarterbacked Hickerson's teams at the University of Mississippi, noticed Hickerson's chair was empty. Franklin found him sitting alone behind a curtain.

"What are you doing here?" Franklin asked.

"I'm sick. I don't feel good," Hickerson replied.

Knowing that Hickerson hated speaking in front of large gatherings, Franklin thought Hickerson just didn't want to do it.

"I didn't know how sick he was," Franklin said recently.

Later in the evening, Hickerson confided to Monte Clark, the right tackle on the Browns' fabulous offensive line, "This is the worst day of my life."

"He knew something was wrong," Clark said.

Life hasn't been any better for Hickerson in the three years since.


Unwanted change

As those around Hickerson, 72, prepare for his long-deserved induction into the Canton football shrine on Saturday, Hickerson exists in a nursing home in Rocky River. He is unable to enjoy what should be one of the happiest times of his life.

Six months ago, Hickerson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. He also has sleep apnea and diabetes.

"A good day for him is when he's talkative and tries to carry on a conversation, when he recognizes myself or my son when he's with me," said son Bob Hickerson, 49. "Some days he's not that responsive at all and can't express himself very well."

Some days Hickerson is combative and ornery. That isn't particularly abnormal for him. Golfers who used the golf cart path once etched into his property in the center of Red Tail Golf Club in Avon know Hickerson could be combative.

A successful businessman after his playing career, Hickerson purchased 130 acres in rural Avon with a partner more than 20 years ago. He built a 6,000-square-foot home on 10 acres and sold the rest, which was developed into a golf-course community.

One day he returned home and saw a cart path carved into his property. On occasion he would chase down golfers who used it.

Today the majestic brick house is vacant, save for Hickerson's furnishings. Family photos crowd the living-room mantle. Football memorabilia, notably photos or artist's renderings of No. 66 leading his trademark sweep in front of running backs Jim Brown or Leroy Kelly, rest on the floor of a recreation room where Hickerson left them.

The sprawling vegetable garden, in which he took great joy planting and harvesting, is bearing bushels of tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers, thanks to the work of family and friends.

Hickerson has not lived in the house since he departed in February for the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, where the NFL annually introduces its newest Hall of Fame class. That trip was the last time Hickerson was not institutionalized.


A difficult trip

Hickerson's mental capacity had been failing for about six months prior to his election to the Hall of Fame on Feb. 3. It was evident in his public comments when reporters sought his reaction to finally making the Hall in his 29th year of eligibility.

Most of Hickerson's comments were inaudible or didn't make sense. His son eventually had a prepared statement read. But after friends and family departed a gathering to celebrate the day, Hickerson barked out, "That's it. I'm in. They can't touch me."

The declaration was a sign that Hickerson still had his wits about him. It helped convince family members to green-light the long trip to Hawaii. Franklin, who will give the presenting speech for Hickerson at induction ceremonies, was called on to escort him through the Pro Bowl formalities.

The first flight was uneventful. On the second leg, Hickerson became agitated and disoriented and panicked.

He jumped from his seat in first class and yelled that he had to get out of there. He made a move toward the door to the flight deck.

Ten men were needed to restrain the 260-pound Hickerson. One of them was fellow Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Matthews, the former Houston and Tennessee offensive lineman who was sitting a few rows behind. Hickerson was bound to his seat for the duration of the flight. A nurse on board calmed him.

In Honolulu, Hickerson immediately was taken to a hospital, where he stayed for two weeks. He turned 72 in that hospital, heavily sedated. A nurse accompanied him on the flights home.

"We knew we were going to have to make some long-term decisions to provide for his care. This was kind of a catalyst that forced it to happen," Bob Hickerson said.


Casualty of an era

A recent survey of retired football players conducted at the University of North Carolina disclosed that players with three or more reported concussions had a fivefold prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease compared with retirees without a history of concussion.

Casualty of an era

A recent survey of retired football players conducted at the University of North Carolina disclosed that players with three or more reported concussions had a fivefold prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease compared with retirees without a history of concussion.

Hickerson did not have a recorded history of concussions in his 15 seasons with the Browns. He missed the 1961 season and two games the next year after breaking a leg in the first exhibition game. He never missed another, finishing with 202 games, fourth-most in Browns history.

But concussions were not commonly recorded in Hickerson's day. And his entire career was played when defenders were permitted to swat linemen in the head. The head slap was not outlawed until 1977.

"He played 15 years hitting his head," Schafrath said. "We went from leather helmets to plastic, had no face masks, then a single bar and then a double bar. All these were tests, and [the Browns] were the guys testing them.

"We were all taught to hit with your head, spear with your head. A lot of those old-timers took a lot of pounding on the head. And then there was the head slap. We'd actually go through that in practice for 15 or 20 minutes. That all had to take a toll."

Dr. Mark Frankel of Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, who treated Hickerson after he returned from Honolulu, does not disagree.

"My guess would be, yes, his football career may have accelerated the onset or play a contributing role in it," Frankel said.

Hickerson is one of 50 retired NFL players who have been approved for benefits under the league's new "88 Plan." The plan provides up to $88,000 annually for the care of a player afflicted with dementia or brain-related problems.

Bob Hickerson is grateful for the plan that took effect on Feb. 1. But his father must be institutionalized to receive the maximum benefit. The plan allows only up to $50,000 for home care.

So Gene Hickerson remains in a nursing home while his big, brick house stands empty.

Unique personality

When Hickerson came to the Browns as a "future" pick in the 1957 draft, he already enjoyed a friendship with a fellow Memphis resident named Elvis Presley. As his football career took off, Hickerson would send Presley coaches film of Browns games. Presley, whom Hickerson referred to as Eli, became a fan of the team and was fascinated with the ability of Jim Brown.

Hickerson also brought a reputation for being . . . well, different.

He never answered a question directly, especially about himself. He often answered a question with a question or some off-the-cuff remark that left people scratching their heads, unless they knew him.

"That's Gene," was how most everyone explained Hickerson's unique personality.

Hickerson enjoyed challenging authority, though he held coach Paul Brown in the utmost esteem. Fritz Heisler, the great offensive line coach from the Browns' inception, called Hickerson "a law unto himself."

"Gene drove Fritz crazy," Schafrath said. "He never answered a question from Fritz, never acknowledged him. Gene would be chewing gum or doing puzzles. He just ignored him. But you knew he was listening."

Stories abound of Hickerson's individualistic ways. He never worked out, yet was one of the strongest players on the team. He never extended himself in warm-ups beyond leaning against a goalpost. He'd refuse to run laps at training camp. He never talked to teammates during a game.

"He kept things loose in practice and pregame, but when the game started he was all business," Schafrath said.

What made Hickerson so valuable in the Browns' power-sweep running game was his speed.

"He was a unique athlete," Clark said. "I don't know any lineman I've ever been around who could run like he could. And he was unparalleled as a downfield blocker."

"You know Gene Hickerson?" Huff said. "Well, don't tell that s.o.b., but he was the best offensive lineman I played against."


No easy decision

Hickerson married at an early age. Few of his teammates met his wife because she did not join him in Cleveland the one season they were together.

Bob Hickerson was born before the marriage broke up. Bob grew up in Mississippi with his mother, who remarried. Gene never remarried.

Bob said he never saw his father play in a game, except for one exhibition held in Memphis in 1970.

"Gene made me an offer to come into business with him and I moved to Cleveland in 1983," he said.

As his father's legal guardian, Bob has agonized over Gene's care. He deliberated whether to have Gene on hand for the induction ceremonies.

Hickerson is scheduled to be the fifth of six inductees on Saturday night in Fawcett Stadium next to the Hall of Fame in Canton. The plan is for Hickerson to be discreetly wheeled in just before his turn. Hall officials have contingency plans if Hickerson is unable to participate. A video has been prepared and Bob will speak on behalf of his father.

"I'm torn," Bob Hickerson said recently. "So many people remember him as this strong and invincible lineman and blocker for Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly. On the other hand, he deserves to be at the ceremony and a lot of people will be there to honor him."

About 25 former Browns are scheduled to make the trip to Canton to attend Hickerson's overdue honor. On one of his bad days, Hickerson would not recognize any of them.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Hickerson's route to the Hall of Fame
Friday, August 03, 2007
Plain Delaer

The Browns won six team rushing titles in Hickerson's 15 years. They never did so before Hickerson or after him. That includes the years of Marion Motley and Jim Brown's rookie year of 1957.

They won those six rushing titles in a nine-year span, 1958-67 - the best stretch in NFL history. One of the seasons they missed was 1961. Hickerson was out all year with a broken leg. Jim Brown's rushing average plummeted 1.2 yards without Hickerson.

It wasn't all Jim Brown. Brown retired after the '65 season. The Browns then led in rushing in '66 and '67 with Leroy Kelly (an eighth-round draft pick in '64). With Hickerson leading the way, Brown averaged 5.64 yards per rush his last three seasons. Kelly averaged 5.18 yards his first three years replacing him.

Brown and Kelly had eight NFL rushing titles in Hickerson's career. No Browns player has done so since.

There are 15 offensive linemen in the Hall of Fame whose careers overlapped Hickerson's by at least six seasons. Only one of them blocked for a back who led all of pro football in rushing. Tackle Bob St. Clair helped Joe Perry to consecutive rushing titles in 1953-54.

During Hickerson's career, four Browns running backs were named to the Pro Bowl -Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Kelly and Ernie Green, for a total of 17 appearances.

The Browns posted a 67.2 win percentage during Hickerson's 15 seasons, the best in all of football.

- Tony Grossi

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have an effective OL....and can run the ball.....then you win ballgames.

Period.

I;m glad I read the article , but it breaks my heart !

Agreed.. it is heartbreaking.

I thought it was sad this morning when listening to the guest hosts on "Mike&Mike" run down the HOF inductees and neither one had heard of Hickerson....having to look him up to even make a comment.

After reading the above story, sad is put in perspective..

Friday, 08/03/07

Weststate's Hickerson heads into football Hall Saturday

By DAVID THOMAS
Gannett Tennessee

Gene Hickerson played one year of football at Trezevant High School in the 1950s, and his playing career nearly ended there. It took a call from the local postmaster to get the attention of Ole Miss and start Hickerson down a path that would lead to the Cleveland Browns, where he threw blocks for the likes of Jim Brown.

On Saturday, Hickerson, 72, will be enshrined as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. It will be a proud moment for Hickerson's friends and family, but it will be bittersweet. Hickerson suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has trouble walking. He lives in a nursing home in Cleveland.

His younger brother, Willie Hickerson, said Gene is expected to attend the ceremony to receive his jacket but will not speak. Willie will attend, too, although he said it will be difficult emotionally because of his brother's condition.

"I really didn't want to go," Willie said from his home in Memphis. "I was talked into it."

Willie was back in Carroll County this summer, where he was invited to speak at the West Carroll High School Alumni Association Banquet.

"I talked about my brother and his career, and everybody wanted to know about him," Willie said. "I told them on the front end Gene was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. It shocked a lot of people. I didn't want to tell them at the end and have a sad ending to the evening."

Good old days

Willie, who played football with his brother at Trezevant and Ole Miss, enjoys reminiscing about his brother's career.

"(Trezevant) started football in 1950, and Gene played high school football one year," Willie said. "He played tailback, and I played fullback. Gene weighed 220 pounds, was 6-3, and I swear could outrun a freight train."

But when football season ended in Gene's senior year, he didn't have any offers to play college football. That's where Trezevant postmaster Jim Goodwyn came in. Willie said Goodwyn had written Ole Miss coaches and asked them to look at Gene, even though his team hadn't won a game during the year he played.

"Mr. Goodwyn got irritated," Willie said. "He was a big Ole Miss fan, and his son went to school there. He called them and got mad because he heard nothing from any of them."

Willie said Goodwyn shamed Ole Miss into sending someone to Trezevant. Tom Swayze and Junie Hovious were the coaches who came to meet Gene.

"They pulled up under some huge trees in our yard, and Gene walked out of the house," Willie said. "They looked at each other and said 'What do you think? We'll take him.'"

Head coach Johnny Vaught never saw Gene until he got to Ole Miss.

With only one year of football experience, things didn't go well at first for Gene at Ole Miss. He was moved to the line within two weeks, but didn't even dress for games his freshman year, Willie said. Gene was redshirted his sophomore year. Willie, who is two years younger, joined his brother on the Ole Miss team the following year. By that time, Gene had matured as a football player. His strength and speed had caught the attention of coaches.

"He was a man playing with boys - just a great football player," Willie said.

The Cleveland Browns drafted Gene in the seventh round when he still had one year of college eligibility remaining. Gene stayed with Ole Miss for another year.

"We lost one and tied one in the 1957 season and beat Texas January 1 in the Sugar Bowl when Darrell Royal was coaching Texas his first year," Willie said. "I played right guard, and Gene played right tackle. I still have my watch, and it still runs."

Gene was offered a $12,000 contract by the Browns but held out for another $1,000 on the advice of offensive coach Bruiser Kinard, who is also in the Hall of Fame, Willie said.

Gene was the NFL's Most Valuable Lineman in 1967, was All-Pro six times and played in the Pro Bowl nine times. He won the 1964 NFL championship game, when the Browns beat the Colts and Johnny Unitas, 27-0, Willie said.

"Gene was a pulling guard for three Hall of Fame backs - Jim Brown, Leroy Kelley and Bobby Mitchell," Willie said.

And that was something not lost on Eddie Crawford, who starred at Jackson High School before signing to play at Ole Miss.

"Let's face facts: his speed made Jim Brown, and that was a big deal," Crawford said. "(Gene) was 6-4, 260 and could pull and run."

Crawford is a senior associate athletic director at Ole Miss and will be in attendance Saturday at Canton.

"I'm going with our chancellor, Dr. Robert Khayat, and (former Ole Miss athletic director) Warner Alford," Crawford said.

Khayat and Alford - like Crawford - played with Gene and Willie.

"Gene had not played much football, but he had the ability," Crawford said. "He had the size and speed."

Crawford played two years with Gene at Ole Miss.

"I remember him at Trezevant, and he was a great high school football player; but we never crossed paths," Crawford said. "(Jackson High) played in the Big Ten at the time and played Milan and Trenton."

Gene was married briefly as a young man but decided married life was not for him, Willie said. He retired after working most of his non-football career with Anchor Tool and Die in Cleveland as a representative. In 1996, he was voted to the Ole Miss all-century team when the school celebrated 100 years of football.

Willie, who is retired and plays golf three times a week, leaves Friday for Canton.

Bobby Franklin, who played quarterback at Ole Miss and defensive back for Cleveland, will be Gene's presenter. He will be one of 38 former Cleveland teammates expected to be in attendance.

Willie is sad that Gene won't be able to enjoy what should be one of his finest hours. But with that sadness he also feels pride.

"We always have had great admiration for one another," he said. "Gene was my big brother, always was, always will be."

Great article Iam.....much better than the last one.

I am glad many of his Ole Miss alum are going to be present.

Just a note to all...Oxford is a great place to watch a game.....do it if you are ever in the area and have a chance.

I can personally attest that I have never forgotten Gene. I own every Gene Hickerson football card that was ever made.

...always glad to see a Brown get in.
It's so sad in Gene's case because it didn't happen when he could've truley enjoyed it. It's not even fair...because he deserved to be in so much earlier.

He was long before my time as a Browns fan, but I'd say his enshrinement was LONG overdue. Congrats to him and his family.

It would definitely be better to have some kind of criteria other than the politics that go on.

Realizing we are all biased here, how does the guard that destroyed ALL semblance of linebackers that came close to Brown and Kelly get overlooked for so long,....

To be unbiased,....how many other linemen might be out there in this same sinking boat,...??

It is very sad......Hickerson should have been in the HOF the same year as Jim Brown or shorty after..........way overdue!

I will be watching tomorrow evening with a heavy heart for #66......I have seen a lot of pictures of Jim Brown running the ball in the days (many downtown Cleveland in hotel bars and hole in the walls) and Gene Hickerson was often leading the way!

Hopefully he will know what is going on tomorrow in his mind, I am so afraid that he may not have a clue due to his illness..... ........hoping that is not the case!

Will be interesting to see if Jim Brown is around......and if he will get up and say a word or two about big Hickerson!

From the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, TN

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/sports_columnists/article/0,1426,MCA_468_5658871,00.html

Bittersweet day for Reb's (Cleveland's) great Hickerson
August 4, 2007

Today is the day Gene Hickerson has been awaiting most of his adult life. He's going to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The son of a poor cotton farmer from West Tennessee, the 13th of 14th children, and the best downfield blocker ever to strap it on for the Ole Miss Rebels or the Cleveland Browns, will finally get his moment in the sun.

Except -- how to put it? -- the sun is already setting for Hickerson. He is suffering from Alzheimer's.

He has good days and bad days. He may or may not know what is happening around him at the induction ceremony.

Instead of staying in Canton, Hickerson, 72, will be staying at his special care facility up the road in Cleveland. Instead of sitting on the stage, Hickerson will sit at a table with friends, family and his regular nurse.

Bob Hickerson, Gene's son, will say some words on his father's behalf. Friends are hoping Gene might be able to wave.

"I wasn't going to go," said Willie Hickerson, Gene's younger brother, who lives in Memphis and took a flight up Friday morning. "I wanted to remember him the way I saw him last."


• •

Six men will be inducted into the Hall of Fame today. They will be remembered as strong and young and fast.

But young men -- God willing -- grow into old men. Old men grow weak, or infirm, or confused.

There is nothing to be ashamed of in this. It happens to presidents and kings.

And now it has happened to a Hall of Fame football player, an athlete with such abundant gifts he earned a scholarship at Ole Miss just walking out his front door.

Willie Hickerson swears it's a true story, although he wouldn't believe it himself if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

"Gene only played football for one year in high school," he said. "We lived on a farm, about 3 miles from Trezevant, and not the one in Memphis, either. Our mailing address was Route 3, Atwood, Tennessee. It's not near much of anything.

"Anyway, our postmaster in 1954 was a man named Jim Goodwin. He wrote Ole Miss a letter and said, 'We've got this fine football player up here.' He didn't hear anything back. So he wrote again and they never contacted him. Now he really was insulted. So he picks up the phone and says, 'I've written two letters about this fine football player we have up here and I haven't heard from y'all.'

"Well, in a few weeks, two Ole Miss coaches come out. They drove out to our house, under those big oak trees on our farm up there. Gene comes out the front door and one of the coaches says to the other one, 'Well, what do you think?' And the other one says, 'Let's take him.'"

That's how Hickerson ended up in Oxford. He knew so little about football it took him two full years to make varsity.

But he was always as strong as black coffee, as sudden as a mule's kick.

"He demolished people," said Willie, who played alongside his brother at Ole Miss for two years. "He'd line up against All-Americans and embarrass them."

The Browns drafted Hickerson in 1957, as a junior. They figured he was worth the wait.

Sure enough, in nine of the next 10 seasons, a Cleveland running back ran for at least 1,000 years. Before Hickerson arrived, only seven runners in NFL history had run for 1,000 yards.

Friends figured Hickerson would be a certain Hall of Famer, just like the three Cleveland running backs -- Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly -- who had followed his blocks to Canton.

"It took longer than it should have," said Bobby Franklin, who played with Hickerson at Ole Miss and Cleveland, and will be his presenter today. "Some people say it's his personality. He wasn't ever much at talking about himself."

Once, Hickerson's aunt asked Hickerson how much he made playing for the Browns.

"About $8.50 an hour," Hickerson said.

It was quintessential Hickerson, wry and modest, a man who never used a dozen words where one would do.

"Gene is a peculiar person," said Willie. "I love him to death, but he's a peculiar person. I don't mind telling you that.

"He'd come in at night and never say a word to me. He'd crawl into bed, go to sleep, then get up and be gone without saying a word. But you know what's so funny about it? I know he loved me."

Hickerson got married during his time at Ole Miss. That's when he had his son, Bob. One night, Willie was awakened by Gene.

"He had all this stuff, he dragged it in the closet," Willie said. "I said, 'What are you doing, Gene?' He said, 'I don't like being married.' That's all he ever said. And he never did marry again, either."

So Hickerson lived his life as a bachelor, in Ohio, making a living after football as a manufacturer's representative. Often, people would ask Hickerson when he was going to the Hall of Fame.

"I might drive down tomorrow," Hickerson would say.

Years passed. Then decades. Hickerson's mind started to wander. Some wonder if football had anything to do with it.

"I know that nothing good will come from getting hit on the head 50 or 60 times a day for 15 years," Willie said. "But blame football? I don't blame football for anything. Where would Gene Hickerson be today if it hadn't been for that postmaster? He's led a great life."

And in early February, Hickerson finally got the phone call he'd been waiting for. The Hall of Fame. Plus, a trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii with Michael Irvin, Thurman Thomas and the rest of the inductees.

Willie insists Hickerson understood the meaning of that phone call. As for the trip to Hawaii ...

"He's never been the same since," he said.

Bobby Franklin joined Hickerson for the long flight. Halfway through it, Hickerson began to lose his grip.

He wouldn't sit down. He kept saying he had to get off the plane.

Instead of going to the hotel in Hawaii, Hickerson went straight to the hospital. Bob, his son, flew out to help bring him back.

"He was living at his home before the trip," Bob said. "When we got back, we took him to the special care facility. What happened? I don't know. He went downhill fast."

But what to tell the Hall of Fame? What to tell the press?

"We hid it for a little while," Willie said, "but I finally said, one day, 'You can't hide this.'"

Now Willie and Bob talk more openly about Hickerson's condition. The more they do, the more they realize how many families have been touched by Alzheimer's.

Reporters. Former players. People at the Hall of Fame. It seems like everyone has an Alzheimer's story to match their own.

"The time of pushing these things under the rug is over," Bob said. "Everybody recognizes the disease. More and more people are stricken with it."

So Bob will drive to the special care facility this morning to pick up his father. He'll drive him to the ceremony and see how it goes.

Maybe Hickerson will have one of his good days. Maybe he won't. Either way, it's worth a try.

Because Hickerson's disease doesn't change what he once did. The last chapter of Hickerson's story hasn't become the whole tale.

"There were a lot of opinions about how to handle this," Bob said. "But what it finally came down to was that he deserves to be here."

Today's inductees

Gene Hickerson, guard, Cleveland (1958-73)
Michael Irvin, WR, Dallas (1988-99)
Bruce Matthews, OL, Houston/Tennessee (1983-2001)
Charlie Sanders, TE, Detroit (1968-77)
Thurman Thomas, RB, Buffalo (1988-99), Miami (2000)
Roger Wehrli, CB, St. Louis Cardinals (1969-82)

To reach Geoff Calkins, call him at 529-2364 or e-mail.

AT LAST!

Teammates make Gene's day magical
Steve King, Staff Writer
08.04.2007

CANTON -- Back in the day, former Browns safety Bobby Franklin held six seasons for a Pro Football Hall of Fame teammate, kicker Lou Groza, taking the wobble and lean out of the ball and making sure it was straight and true.

And on this day, he held up for about six minutes or so another Hall of Fame ex-Brown, offensive guard Gene Hickerson, gently but strongly and reassuringly taking him by the hand Saturday evening at Fawcett Stadium and steadying him as he helped lead him through the doors of the Hall -- finally -- a couple hundred yards away.

Franklin, who played for the Browns from 1960-66, gave a stirring presentation speech for his dear friend with whom he lived when they were young players in Cleveland. Afraid all along that he would become too emotional during the speech, his worse fears were realized.

But it was all good. Very good and very poignant.

"I love Gene Hickerson as if he were my brother, and I would like you all to love him, too," Franklin said.

For this was an indeed as much an emotional event as it was a significant one. The induction ended a 29-year HOF wait for Hickerson, who, during a 15-year Browns career played between 1958-73, made it to six straight Pro Bowls, was named All-NFL five times and was selected to the league's All-Decade team for the 1960s.

He became eligible for the Hall in 1978 after the mandatory five-year wait following his retirement. A finalist three straight years from 1981-83, he never got that far again this year, long after he had fallen under the jurisdiction of the Senior Committee, a sub-group of the HOF's Selection Committee.

At long last, he got into the Hall, along with fellow Senior nominee Charlie Sanders and four modern-day candidates in running back Thurman Thomas, cornerback Roger Wehrli, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews and wide receiver Michael Irvin.

Hickerson is the 16th Brown to get into the HOF, the others being Groza, running backs Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Bobby Mitchell and Marion Motley, quarterback Otto Graham, wide receivers Dante Lavelli and Paul Warfield, tight end Ozzie Newsome, offensive tackle Mike McCormack, fellow guard Joe DeLamielleure, center Frank Gatski, defensive end Len Ford, middle guard Bill Willis and head coach/general manager Paul Brown.

But now he is not well and confined to a nursing home in the Cleveland suburb of Rocky River, not far from his longtime home in Avon Lake where he yearly raised a football field-sized garden and personally delivered the harvest to needy. In his honor this summer, his friends put in and tended the garden. In a few weeks -- if they haven't started doing so already -- they'll start making their rounds.

Sadly, Hickerson can no longer do the things he loves to do, the things he wants to do.

And he can't savor the thing he most wanted to do -- get into the Hall of Fame, even though he never admitted it.

That phone call from the HOF kept getting blocked out every year until it was just too late -- "way too long", according to Franklin.

"Normally, Gene would come out here and crack a joke or two and tell you how thrilled he is, but unfortunately, he will not be able to do that," Franklin said.

But a number of Hickerson's former teammates came from all parts of the country to personally show their respect and admiration for No. 66's grand, long-awaited accomplishment. Although he probably doesn't have much grasp of the moment, they knew they had to be there for him.

And for Bob Hickerson, whose voice quivered a number of times as he gave the acceptance speech on behalf of his father.

And for Franklin, to help get him through the night. The man they have long called Wavy couldn't be allowed to waver.

Join hands and help one another. Make sure everyone got to where they needed to go.

Together.

Steady the unsteady. Take the wobble out. Keep the ball -- and the ballplayers -- straight and true.

It was oh, so natural to them. They knew no other way. After all, that's the way they had been taught -- the way they had been coached.

"One of my clients who lives in Indianapolis and is a big Browns fan told me a story," Bob Hickerson said. "After Leroy Kelly had a big game (in 1966), scoring several touchdowns and gaining a lot of yards, he was interviewed by a sports journalist.

"This was the first year after Jim Brown retired. The journalist said to Leroy, 'You've sat the last two years behind Jim Brown and must have learned a lot.'

"Leroy said back to him, 'I did learn a lot. I learned to follow Gene Hickerson.' "

Even on HOF induction day.

At the end of Bob Hickerson's speech, one of the greatest moments in HOF history took place when Brown, Mitchell and Kelly -- the men for whom Gene Hickerson had blocked all those years -- joined together to wheel their ailing former teammate out to center stage. It was finally their turn to do the heavy work-- to clear a path and help him to get where he needed to go, out there to hear the roar of the crowd one more time.

Kelly just nodded his head approvingly. Mitchell, who left the Browns via a trade after the 1961 season but said he will always consider himself a Cleveland Brown first and foremost, pumped his fist. Brown, who campaigned so hard for Hickerson, just took it all in.

Kay Collier McLaughlin, one of three daughters of the late, great Blanton Collier, the head coach of the Browns for eight years of Hickerson's career, visited the team's training headquarters the other day.

"Daddy always told his players, 'It's amazing what a team can do as long as no one cares who gets the credit,' " she said.

After watching the way his "boys," as he called them, performed so admirably and so unselfishly over the weekend, in general, and Saturday, in particular -- the same way they did back on Dec. 27, 1964 when, under his direction, they pooled their resources and pulled off the greatest team achievement in Browns history by dominating the heavily-favored Baltimore Colts 27-0 in the NFL Championship Game -- somewhere her daddy has to be smiling.

Life lessons -- the ones that last 43 years, at least.

They're the best.
www.clevelandbrowns.com

Hickerson pulls into Canton

Sunday, August 05, 2007
Tony Grossi
Plain Dealer Reporter

Unable to walk or talk, Gene Hickerson still had one final sweep left in him.

For weeks, family and friends fretted about whether Hickerson, a former Browns guard stricken with Alzheimer's and dementia, would be able to attend his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

It was a good weekend for Hickerson, and he made it through with flying colors.

Presenter Bobby Franklin nearly broke up when he informed the audience it was unfortunate that Hickerson wouldn't be able to speak. In his acceptance speech for his father, Bob Hickerson made a reference to Hickerson's "condition," but didn't elaborate.

Bob Hickerson closed his speech by announcing, "At this time, please join me in welcoming Gene, who's still leading the way for Bobby Mitchell, Leroy Kelly and Jim Brown."

From the side of the massive stage in Fawcett Stadium, the Hall of Fame backs who benefited from Hickerson's blocking in his 15-year career -- from 1958 to '60, and 1962 to '73 -- gently pushed Hickerson in a wheelchair to receive the recognition overdue him for 29 years.

Hickerson, 72, sat unflinchingly in his gold Hall of Fame jacket. The crowd of 12,787 stood and applauded for the better part of 60 seconds.

Although the disease rendered Hickerson emotionless, family was convinced he was able to acknowledge and enjoy his induction.

The night before at the Enshrinees Dinner, at which each inductee was formally presented his gold jacket, Hickerson shed a tear as a video highlighting his illustrious career played.

He acknowledged Franklin, his best friend of 52 years, with his familiar salutation of Bobby Waxie. And when Willie Hickerson, Gene's younger brother, approached him, Gene showed a look of surprise and said, "Brother."

At the dinner, Hickerson sat at a table with family apart from the stage where the other inductees sat. Afterward, Thurman Thomas, the former Buffalo Bills running back, collected the other enshrinees and led them to Hickerson. They all hugged and kissed him.

"That made the evening," said Hickerson's daughter-in-law, Eileen. "It was wonderful."

The dinner encouraged the family that the Hall of Fame's contingency plans, in case Hickerson became disoriented, would not be necessary. Staffers were prepared to whisk Hickerson out at a moment's notice.

Hickerson spent most of the ceremony secluded in a Canton hotel room. He was brought to Fawcett Stadium and discreetly wheeled behind the stage just after 8 p.m. while Thomas, fourth in order, was delivering his acceptance speech.

In a video played before Hickerson's induction, Franklin disclosed in an interview that he was hesitant about giving the presenting speech because it would be so emotional for him, given Hickerson's condition. He breezed through the bulk of it, until he mentioned that Hickerson could not speak on his behalf.

"Gene would tell you how thrilled he is to receive this honor today, and crack a joke or two," Franklin said.

He concluded by saying, "Borrowing these words from another Hall of Famer, Gale Sayers, I would like to ask you all to love Gene Hickerson."

After their dramatic entrance, Mitchell, Kelly and Brown moved Hickerson to view the bronze bust of his likeness that will forever be on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Then he was assisted off the stage.

Michael Irvin, the former Dallas Cowboys receiver, followed Hickerson as the last of six inductees. The first words out of his mouth were a prayer for Hickerson and his family.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

Quote:

---

"Daddy always told his players, 'It's amazing what a team can do as long as no one cares who gets the credit,' "

---