Harry Gilmer, American football player, Died at 90

  Sports

Harry Vincent Gilmer Jr. was born on April 14, 1926, and died on August 20, 2016.

He was an American football player.

He was a halfback and quarterback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions.

Harry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Following high school, Gilmer attended and played college football at the University of Alabama, where he was the left halfback from 1944 to 1947.

Still a freshman, Gilmer was 8 for 8 in passing attempts during a loss against Duke University in the Sugar Bowl.

His best year was his sophomore season, when he led the nation in touchdown passes, 13, and he ran for nine touchdowns.

Harry had 79 rushing attempts with an average gain of 7.0 yards and a passing percentage of .648 on 88 attempts.

Harry Gilmer’s total offense, 1,457 yards, was second in the nation.

He also spent time as a punter and kickoff returner and in his junior year, he returned 37 punts and his average, 14.5 yards, led the nation.

In that same season, he led Alabama to the 1946 Rose Bowl, where they beat the University of Southern California, 34-14. In his career Gilmer passed for 26 touchdowns and ran for 24.

Harry Gilmer passed for 2894 yards and rushed for 1673.

Harry’s punting average was 36.4 yards.

Harry Gilmer averaged 28.7 yards on kickoff returns, 13.5 on punt returns.

He was drafted as the first overall pick in the 1948 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, where he played from 1948 to 1954, however he was traded.

In retirement he became coach.

Harry Gilmer passed away at 90 years old.