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Harlon Hill was chosen as the Lions' first football All-American when he was selected for the NAIA squad in 1953. He played football, basketball and baseball for Florence State Teachers College and as a senior he caught 12 passes for 246 yards and four touchdowns. He caught 54 career passes as a Lion for 1,020 yards and 19 touchdowns, out of the run-oriented single-wing offense.
He was later drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago Bears and went on to become the National Football League Rookie of the Year in 1954 and the NFL Most Valuable Player and the first recipient of the Jim Thorpe Trophy in 1955. He was an All-Pro selection in 1954, '55, '56 and a Pro-Bowl participant in 1955, '56, '57. He set Bears' records for passes caught (226) and yards gained (4,616) and caught four touchdown passes in a single game and had 40 career TD catches. In nine NFL seasons he made 233 catches for 4,717 yards and averaged 20.2 yards per reception.
He was selected for the NAIA Helms Foundation Hall of Fame in 1956 and was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1976. He was named to the 50th Anniversary UNA Football Team for 1949-98. The NCAA Division II Player of the Year award bears his name. He received a B.S. degree in Secondary Education from Florence State in 1955 and his Master's in 1969.
He passed away in 2013.
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