Gene Hickerson Passes Away

By Jimmie McDOWELL
Gene Hickerson was the second Ole Miss football player named to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. He should have been the third. Charlie Conerly, the New York Giants field general for 14 years, still has not been enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Bruiser Kinard was the Rebels' first Pro Football Hall of Famer, just as he was the first Ole Miss man to win All-America acclaim.
Hickerson died at the age of 73, a victim of Alzheimer. He developed pneumonia and it was only a matter of time before he drew his last breath. Hickerson was called the best offensive lineman to ever play the game by the man he led interference for, the great Jim Brown. When Gene was inducted into the Pro Hall of Fame, Jim Brown pushed his wheel car to the podium.
Hickerson was one of Thomas King Swayze's prize recruits. Tom and Junie Hovious, noted bird dog fans, wanted to go to Grand Junction for the Bird Dog trials and by intermingling a football recruiting trip they did not have to pay mileage.
They knew of a hefty lad in Tiptonville, Tn. and dropped by his house to check him out. His Father was in the yard when they drove up to the house. They introduced themselves and asked Mr. Hickerson if his son was home. He said he was and called the lad out of the house. Out walked a king sized youngster with his shirt off. They saw all they needed to see and offered Gene Hickerson an Ole Miss football scholarship which he accepted.
Hickerson became a part of Johnny Vaught's Glory Years. So did Jackie Simpson, Gene's pal. One morning the police chief Burns Tatum called Vaught and said this time Simpson and Hickerson had gone to far and Vaught would have to let them go. Vaught asked Chief Tatum how long has he been the Chief of Police and Burns Tatum said proudly "25 years, John." Vaught replied that :"we sure are going to miss you."
Burns Tatum said that on second thought every boy needed a second chance. What Burns Tatum wanted was a second chance with John Howard Vaught.
Hickerson was co-captain of the 1957 Rebels. He helped lead Ole Miss to the 1955 SEC title followed by a victory for Ole Miss over Vaught's TCU Alma Mater in the Cotton Bowl followed by a 39-7 triumph over the University of Texas in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss was 10-1, 7-3 and 9-1-1 during Hickerson's time at Ole Miss Gene Hickerson was named to the all-time Sugar Bowl team and the Ole Miss Team of the Century.
He was inducted into the Mississippi Sport s Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Ole Miss Sport's Hall of Fame in 1988.
It was my pleasure to cover the Rebels during that time as Sports Editor of the Jackson Daily News and the Jackson State Times.
Hickerson was six-three and 235 and cat quick. Jim Brown said he was the best down field blocker of all time blocking for Brown, Leroy Kelly and Bobby Mitchell. for the Cleveland Browns. Gene's teammate at Ole Miss and Cleveland Johnny Brewer is battling Lou Gehrig's disease and another former teammate Larry Grantham is fighting Cancer--three of Ole Miss' best ever.
Charlie Conerly, meanwhile, should get a stronger looker by the NFL Veterans Committee. In the famed Giants-Baltimore "Best Game" which made Pro Football what it is today Conerly had been voted the game's MVP as the Giants went into the fourth quarter with a lead. The Colts kicked a late field goal to tie the game and send the contest into overtime. Baltimore won the game on Allen Ameche's TD run. The scribes voted again and Johnny Unitas was elected the MVP. Johnny has been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame a long time. Conerly is still on the outside looking in.
Conerly, the World War II Marine who fought in the South Pacific , was to New York in Football what Joe DiMaggio was to Baseball in Gotham. Wellington Mara, the Giants President, had been asked what was his favorite jersey number. "42" , Conerly's number, Wellington "Duke" Mara replied. He wanted to see Charlie's widow, Perian, accept Charlie's Pro Football Hall of Fame plaque in Canton, Ohio. He told me so before he passed away a couple of years ago.
Duke Mara's son, John, now the President of the Giants, feels the same way.
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