Gary Hammond grew up in Port Arthur, Texas, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1968. He was a second team All-State quarterback in 1967 and a high school All-American in 1968. Hammond was a three-year letterman at Southern Methodist University, was an All-SWC wide receiver as a sophomore, and repeated the honor as a running back his junior year. As a senior in 1971, Hammond was the conference's Player-of-the-Year as a quarterback. He led the SWC in receiving in both 1969 and 1970. He was a three-time All-American in 1969-1971. He captained the football team in 1971, when they went to the Hula Bowl, and also received the Kern Tips Memorial Trophy and the Ft. Worth Kiwanis Club Ray McColloch Sportsmanship Award that year. Hammond is a member of the SMU Hall of Fame and received the SMU Alumni Association Leadership Award in 1969, 1970, and 1971. He was the New York Jets' third-round draft pick in 1972 but missed the entire season because of knee surgery. Placed on waivers by the Jets, Hammond was picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 and played for the club through the 1976 season. He was NFL Alumni Association President in 1986-87 and in 1992 received the NFL Alumni Legends Award. Hammond is currently the Vice President for Office Leasing and Marketing of Folsolm Investments, Inc. in Dallas.

Return to Sports Legends...