Members
Inductee
HILLENBRAND, BILLY
HILLENBRAND, BILLY
Born on March 29, 1922
Armstrong, IN
July 17, 1994.
Inducted On
January 16, 1975
Location Inducted
Richmond, IN
Region Number
9
Evansville Memorial
Player
Evansville Reitz Memorial
1940
All-State 1937, 1938, 1939; 3-year class president and vice-president 1 year; 4-year varsity letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; All-State Basketball (Catholic) Sportsmanship Award at state basketball tournament; Evansville single year scoring record still stands, with a four-year record of 485 points.
Indiana University
1946
All-Big Ten Team, Chicago “Wailing Wall," and Big Ten Alumni Association “Back of the Year” 1941, 1942; Chicago Tribune Big Ten Player of the Year 1942; All-State College Team selection 1941, 1942; played in Chicago Tribune All-Star Football Games 1944, 1946; consensus All-American Halfback and First Team by UPI, Sporting News, Collier's Weekly, New York Sun, Central Press Association, NEA wire service, and Walter Camp Football Foundation; member - Sphynx Club, Falcon Club, Board of Eons, and Student War Council.
Served in US Army during WW II, playing one season of Service football at Fort Benning before serving in India; ran a food brokerage firm for 21 years after retiring from football; selected to All-time IU All-Star Football Team 1970; inducted into the Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame, posthumously, with the inaugural class of 2012.
Professional Athletic Background: Drafted in first round of 1944 draft by New York Giants; played with Chicago Rockets 1946; played for Baltimore Colts 1947 and 1948.
Professional Athletic Honors: All-AFL 2nd Team All-Star Selection 1947 and 1948; held several individual Colts records, all of which have since been broken; team scoring leader 1946, 1947, and 1948; a total of 970 receiving yards and average of 11.2 yards per touch were AAFC League's best in 1948.
Professional Athletic Honors: All-AFL 2nd Team All-Star Selection 1947 and 1948; held several individual Colts records, all of which have since been broken; team scoring leader 1946, 1947, and 1948; a total of 970 receiving yards and average of 11.2 yards per touch were AAFC League's best in 1948.
