Professional Football Player. He was born in Roanoke, Alabama, on March 3, 1921. The family later moved to Massillon, Ohio, where he grew up.
He was a high school standout on the gridiron and played for the legendary coach Paul Brown at Massillon Washington High School, where he was a starter and excelled as a linebacker, end, and punter between 1938 and 1940. During those years, the Massillon Tigers won all their games and captured two High School Football National Championships. He was awarded First Team All-County and First Team All-Ohio twice in high school. As a high school punter, he was unmatched with many kicks sailing over 50 yards. In 1940, he was voted Ohio's most outstanding high school player in Ohio history. Brown once called him his best all-around high school player, saying, "There has never been a better punter than Horace."
Gillom followed Brown to Ohio State in 1941 and played on the freshman team before dropping out due to poor grades. He then served in the U.S. Army for three years during WWII, where he was awarded three Bronze Stars. After being discharged, he enrolled in the University of Nevada, again a standout on the field, but left due to poor grades.
In 1947, Gillom signed with the Browns, an AAFC team coached by Paul Brown. Gillom became the first African-American punter in NFL history and also played as an offensive and defensive end. The team won four consecutive AAFC championships from 1946 to 1949 before the league dissolved and was absorbed by the NFL. While Gillom was a player, the Browns won three NFL championships in 1950, 1954, and 1955. During the 1951 and 1952 seasons, Gillom led the league in punting with an average of over 45 yards per kick. He was released after the 1956 season due to a sore back. His punts had little chance of return due to distance and hang time. He punted over 400 times before one was returned for a touchdown. He is ranked as the 2nd best punter in NFL history. He holds the Browns' record for the longest punt at 80 yards.
After football, he worked as a security guard at a hospital and served as Assistant Athletic Director at the Los Angeles Recreation Department. He died on October 28, 1985 at his home in Los Angeles, California. His remains were taken to Massillon and buried in the Massillon Cemetery.
In 1985, Gillom was inducted into the Canton Negro Oldtimers Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was placed on Massillon's Wall of Champions. In 2007, he was named a Cleveland Browns legend and one of the team's best-ever players. In 2009, he was inducted into the Stark County Hall of Fame.
He was a high school standout on the gridiron and played for the legendary coach Paul Brown at Massillon Washington High School, where he was a starter and excelled as a linebacker, end, and punter between 1938 and 1940. During those years, the Massillon Tigers won all their games and captured two High School Football National Championships. He was awarded First Team All-County and First Team All-Ohio twice in high school. As a high school punter, he was unmatched with many kicks sailing over 50 yards. In 1940, he was voted Ohio's most outstanding high school player in Ohio history. Brown once called him his best all-around high school player, saying, "There has never been a better punter than Horace."
Gillom followed Brown to Ohio State in 1941 and played on the freshman team before dropping out due to poor grades. He then served in the U.S. Army for three years during WWII, where he was awarded three Bronze Stars. After being discharged, he enrolled in the University of Nevada, again a standout on the field, but left due to poor grades.
In 1947, Gillom signed with the Browns, an AAFC team coached by Paul Brown. Gillom became the first African-American punter in NFL history and also played as an offensive and defensive end. The team won four consecutive AAFC championships from 1946 to 1949 before the league dissolved and was absorbed by the NFL. While Gillom was a player, the Browns won three NFL championships in 1950, 1954, and 1955. During the 1951 and 1952 seasons, Gillom led the league in punting with an average of over 45 yards per kick. He was released after the 1956 season due to a sore back. His punts had little chance of return due to distance and hang time. He punted over 400 times before one was returned for a touchdown. He is ranked as the 2nd best punter in NFL history. He holds the Browns' record for the longest punt at 80 yards.
After football, he worked as a security guard at a hospital and served as Assistant Athletic Director at the Los Angeles Recreation Department. He died on October 28, 1985 at his home in Los Angeles, California. His remains were taken to Massillon and buried in the Massillon Cemetery.
In 1985, Gillom was inducted into the Canton Negro Oldtimers Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was placed on Massillon's Wall of Champions. In 2007, he was named a Cleveland Browns legend and one of the team's best-ever players. In 2009, he was inducted into the Stark County Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Player. He was born in Roanoke, Alabama, on March 3, 1921. The family later moved to Massillon, Ohio, where he grew up.
He was a high school standout on the gridiron and played for the legendary coach Paul Brown at Massillon Washington High School, where he was a starter and excelled as a linebacker, end, and punter between 1938 and 1940. During those years, the Massillon Tigers won all their games and captured two High School Football National Championships. He was awarded First Team All-County and First Team All-Ohio twice in high school. As a high school punter, he was unmatched with many kicks sailing over 50 yards. In 1940, he was voted Ohio's most outstanding high school player in Ohio history. Brown once called him his best all-around high school player, saying, "There has never been a better punter than Horace."
Gillom followed Brown to Ohio State in 1941 and played on the freshman team before dropping out due to poor grades. He then served in the U.S. Army for three years during WWII, where he was awarded three Bronze Stars. After being discharged, he enrolled in the University of Nevada, again a standout on the field, but left due to poor grades.
In 1947, Gillom signed with the Browns, an AAFC team coached by Paul Brown. Gillom became the first African-American punter in NFL history and also played as an offensive and defensive end. The team won four consecutive AAFC championships from 1946 to 1949 before the league dissolved and was absorbed by the NFL. While Gillom was a player, the Browns won three NFL championships in 1950, 1954, and 1955. During the 1951 and 1952 seasons, Gillom led the league in punting with an average of over 45 yards per kick. He was released after the 1956 season due to a sore back. His punts had little chance of return due to distance and hang time. He punted over 400 times before one was returned for a touchdown. He is ranked as the 2nd best punter in NFL history. He holds the Browns' record for the longest punt at 80 yards.
After football, he worked as a security guard at a hospital and served as Assistant Athletic Director at the Los Angeles Recreation Department. He died on October 28, 1985 at his home in Los Angeles, California. His remains were taken to Massillon and buried in the Massillon Cemetery.
In 1985, Gillom was inducted into the Canton Negro Oldtimers Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was placed on Massillon's Wall of Champions. In 2007, he was named a Cleveland Browns legend and one of the team's best-ever players. In 2009, he was inducted into the Stark County Hall of Fame.
He was a high school standout on the gridiron and played for the legendary coach Paul Brown at Massillon Washington High School, where he was a starter and excelled as a linebacker, end, and punter between 1938 and 1940. During those years, the Massillon Tigers won all their games and captured two High School Football National Championships. He was awarded First Team All-County and First Team All-Ohio twice in high school. As a high school punter, he was unmatched with many kicks sailing over 50 yards. In 1940, he was voted Ohio's most outstanding high school player in Ohio history. Brown once called him his best all-around high school player, saying, "There has never been a better punter than Horace."
Gillom followed Brown to Ohio State in 1941 and played on the freshman team before dropping out due to poor grades. He then served in the U.S. Army for three years during WWII, where he was awarded three Bronze Stars. After being discharged, he enrolled in the University of Nevada, again a standout on the field, but left due to poor grades.
In 1947, Gillom signed with the Browns, an AAFC team coached by Paul Brown. Gillom became the first African-American punter in NFL history and also played as an offensive and defensive end. The team won four consecutive AAFC championships from 1946 to 1949 before the league dissolved and was absorbed by the NFL. While Gillom was a player, the Browns won three NFL championships in 1950, 1954, and 1955. During the 1951 and 1952 seasons, Gillom led the league in punting with an average of over 45 yards per kick. He was released after the 1956 season due to a sore back. His punts had little chance of return due to distance and hang time. He punted over 400 times before one was returned for a touchdown. He is ranked as the 2nd best punter in NFL history. He holds the Browns' record for the longest punt at 80 yards.
After football, he worked as a security guard at a hospital and served as Assistant Athletic Director at the Los Angeles Recreation Department. He died on October 28, 1985 at his home in Los Angeles, California. His remains were taken to Massillon and buried in the Massillon Cemetery.
In 1985, Gillom was inducted into the Canton Negro Oldtimers Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was placed on Massillon's Wall of Champions. In 2007, he was named a Cleveland Browns legend and one of the team's best-ever players. In 2009, he was inducted into the Stark County Hall of Fame.
Bio by: Denise Carter
