DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum R.I.P. Gene Hickerson

Browns Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson passes away
by Plain Dealer staff reports
Monday October 20, 2008, 1:39 PM

Browns Hall of Fame guard Gene Hickerson passed away this morning at a nursing home in the Greater Cleveland area. He was 73.

Hickerson played for the Browns from 1958-60 and from 1962-73, blocking for Hall of Fame running backs Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly, among others. He was a seventh-round draft pick out of Mississippi in 1957.

Despite support from several teammates, including Brown, and others around the NFL, Hickerson was not inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame until 2007.

He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a seven-time All-Pro selection. He was named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade team. Link

RIP Gene...

Godspeed Mr. Hickerson.

At least they finally had the good sense to finally enshrine him rather than posthumously.

RIP Gene

Sad day for our Browns Family....When I think of great past Browns players # 66 always comes to mind, not only a great player but more importantly a greater human being.


We use to visit my uncle in streetsboro and play football in his back yard, he'd come out and play catch with us and tell us about the Browns, the players, games ect. Gene's name came up frequently, watching a game with my uncle was like watching a game with Vince Lambardi, block, block, block, he's watch the O-line and tell us how important they were, why Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly were great, He would always say if itwasnt for the O-line Kelly would be picking grass out of his.....well...behind, Gene's a great one I tell ya, watch him move, pulling out around the corner, he would yell, didnt understand it than as a 6-8 year old but sure did understand later.

I guess God needed a guard, well he got one of the best. # 66

R.I.P. Gene

RIP Gene, you were one of the greats.

Exactly, everytime you think of the sweep or a great o-line blocker, you think #66.

RIP Gene

R.I.P. Gene

Gene will once again be smiling as he pulls on running plays for the big guy behind the pearly gates. But he will be missed down here buy those who he has touched, and by those who loved him.

RIP Gene You were a man of men, and a great baller.
One of the truley great Brown's of all time. You will be missed.

RIP Mr Hickerson, your induction into the HOF was the moment I was the most proud to be a fan of the Cleveland Browns.

KING

Tough last years for sure.

RIP Gene...you are remembered!

I often think of a guy running behind Hickerson and Jerry Kramer...awesome!

RIP Gene.

RIP Gene. I wish the Hall had done the right thing years ago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3653974

Hall of Famer Hickerson, key blocker for Jim Brown, dies at 73

Associated Press

Updated: October 20, 2008, 6:00 PM ET

BEREA, Ohio -- Gene Hickerson, the Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame right guard whose blocking helped Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell make the shrine, died after a long illness. He was 73.

Hall of Fame spokesman Joe Horrigan confirmed Hickerson's death. He said Hickerson's son, Bob, received a phone call from the care facility in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, where his father was under care on Monday morning.

Gene Hickerson was voted into six straight Pro Bowls and the league's All-Decade team of the 1960s.

Hickerson was Brown's personal bodyguard on the field, clearing the way for No. 32, who called Hickerson "the greatest downfield blocker in the history of pro football." When Hickerson was inducted into the hall in 2007, Brown, Kelly and Mitchell pushed Hickerson's wheelchair onto the stage in Fawcett Stadium.

"He was a great friend of mine, as well as a great protector of mine," Brown said in a statement released by the Browns. "He was a tremendous guard, a tremendous pulling guard, but also an outstanding individual.

"We all eventually leave this earth at some time, but I am so glad he was able to leave with his dignity and with the recognition from all of us -- his former teammates, the fans and writers -- who wanted him to go into the Hall of Fame after waiting so long for that honor.

"I truly respected him as a player and as a human being."

At 6-foot-3, 248 pounds, Hickerson was small by today's gargantuan NFL standards. A sixth-round draft pick from Mississippi, he used his superior speed and quickness to beat defensive linemen off the ball. Hickerson was voted to six straight Pro Bowls and was chosen for the league's All-Decade team of the 1960s.

The Browns never had a losing record during his 15 years with them.

However, following his retirement in 1973 at 38, Hickerson's achievements went mostly unrecognized for decades. He was constantly overlooked for enshrinement in Canton, an omission that bothered him greatly, but one he never mentioned publicly.

"Gene never said much but I know it really bothered him. He would usually make a joke about it, though," teammate Bobby Franklin said. "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.'"

Finally in 2007, he was elected for induction in a class with Michael Irvin, Thurman Thomas, Charlie Sanders, Bruce Matthews and Roger Wehrli.

None of the other Hall of Famers had to wait as long as Hickerson, who sadly, by the time of the ceremony was in failing health and stricken with Alzheimer's disease.

"Everyone associated with the Cleveland Browns is saddened by the loss of Gene Hickerson," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said. "His tenacity as a blocker and toughness as a player epitomized what it means to be a Cleveland Brown."

The Browns selected Hickerson in the same draft where they made Brown first selection. Hickerson played behind former Steelers coach Chuck Noll for one season before taking over as a starter in 1959. He broke his leg in the 1961 preseason opener and then re-broke the leg later in that season while standing on the sideline.

After sitting out two games in 1962, Hickerson played in 165 straight before retiring.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Hickerson, who was born on Feb. 15, 1935 in Trenton, Tenn.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=9003

Browns mourn the loss of Hickerson
Steve King, Staff Writer
10.20.2008

Gene Hickerson, the last but certainly not the least of the Browns' 16 Pro Football Hall of Famers, has died.

The former offensive guard, who played for the Browns for 15 seasons, passed away Monday morning at a nursing home in the Cleveland suburb of Olmsted Falls. He was 73. The cause of death was not immediately known.

"I would like to send my condolences to Gene's family, and I want people all over this country to know that he was a great, great friend of mine, as well as a great protector of mine," said Jim Brown, Hickerson's teammate from 1957-65. "He was a tremendous guard, a tremendous pulling guard, but also an outstanding individual.

"We all eventually leave this earth at some time, but I am so glad he was able to leave with his dignity and with the recognition from all of us - his former teammates, the fans and writers - who wanted him to go into the Hall of Fame after waiting so long for that honor. I truly respected him as a player and as a human being."

A nominee of the Hall's Seniors Committee, Hickerson in 2007 became the 16th Brown to be inducted into the HOF after waiting 29 years for enshrinement. Players have to wait five years after retirement to be eligible for enshrinement, and he retired following the 1973 season, meaning he became eligible in '78.

A seventh-round pick of the Browns in the 1957 NFL Draft out of Mississippi, he was a six-time Pro Bowler and five times an All-Pro. He played through 1960, sat out '61 with a broken leg and resumed his career in '62. He was a member of the Browns' last NFL championship team in 1964.

"Everyone associated with the Cleveland Browns is saddened by his loss," said Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel. "His tenacity as a blocker and toughness as a player epitomized what it is to be a Cleveland Brown. We send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the Hickerson family."

"He was a tremendously gifted football player who played the game like a little kid," said Browns former tackle and current radio color analyst, Doug Dieken. "He was as good as any guard who ever lived."

Check back for more on Hickerson throughout the day.

Actually, I am glad Gene's ordeal is over.

RIP Gene.

Your memory lives on with thousands. A testimony to a life well lived.

I wish we still had some people who could plough the road like he did. RIP Gene.

Gene was a beast on the line and finally got the hall last year. I had heard he wasn't doing good so you knew it was a matter of time

RIP Gene

RIP Gene. You were one of the best to play the game and an outstanding person as well. You will be missed by EVERY Browns fan that watched you play.

I just ordered my Browns History DVD's and can't wait for them to arrive and can
watch Gene in action again.

That's really sad. R.I.P. Gene. I know he'd been suffering from that disease for a long time.

Too young to have seen Gene play. But, doesn't mean I don't know my history

His HOF induction was a joke! He should have been put in before he got to the point where he didn't know what was going on

RIP Gene.

Just goes to show, the linemen should get in before the backs do,....did this guy not play every down he was assigned to play,...??

Rest in peace Gene. Alzheimers is one terrible disease.