Harlon Hill was born May 4, 1932, at Center Hill, Alabama. He was a football standout at Florence State College (1950 to 1953). In 1954 he was drafted by the Chicago Bears and was Rookie of the Year in the National Football League. In 1955 he was the first recipient of the Jim Thorpe Trophy for the most outstanding professional football player of the year. He was selected four times for the all National Football League team, and his career 226 receptions were for 4,616 yards for a 20.4 yards per catch average. He was selected for the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame in 1956. Harlon resides at Killen, Alabama.