Eugene Lamone

Eugene Lamone
No. 72
PositionsGuard, Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born (1933-04-24) April 24, 1933
Wellsburg, West Virginia
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolWellsburg
CollegeWest Virginia
NFL draft1955: 5th round, 57th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights

Gene "Beef" Lamone (born April 24, 1933) is a former American football player and coach. One of the most celebrated offensive linemen in West Virginia University history, Lamone was a two-time All-American, a 60-minute player during the golden era of Mountaineer football, and later a successful coach and corporate executive.[1][2]

Early life and education

Lamone was born on April 24, 1933, in Wellsburg, West Virginia, and attended Wellsburg High School, where he was an all-star in football, baseball, and track.[3][4] Known for his tenacity and physical style of play, he emerged as a standout football lineman and became the first member of his family to attend college.[5]

Lamone graduated from WVU in 1955 with a degree in marketing and business.[6]

Career

College

Lamone enrolled at West Virginia University in 1951 and became a four-year letterwinner under head coach Art Lewis. Nicknamed “Beef” for his stocky, powerful build, he quickly established himself as a dominant force on both sides of the line.[7][8]

Lamone was a 60-minute player during his final two seasons and helped lead WVU to a 28–7 record over four years, including victories over Penn State, a 1954 Sugar Bowl appearance, and a final #12 AP national ranking in 1954.[9][10] He played alongside Mountaineer legends like Bruce Bosley, Sam Huff, Fred Wyant, and Joe Marconi.[11] During his sophomore season, WVU’s 24–0 win over George Washington University launched a school-record streak of 30 consecutive Southern Conference victories.[6][12]

Professional

Lamone was selected in the fifth round of the 1955 NFL draft (57th overall pick).[13] He went on to play two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and one season with the Cleveland Browns, but a knee injury cut his professional football career short.[6][14]

Coaching

Following his playing career, Lamone moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he became head football coach at Linsly School, serving in that role for eight years.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "WVUStats - Gene Lamone". www.wvustats.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Sep 15, 1970, page 10 - The Weirton Daily Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Mar 02, 1963, page 7 - The Weirton Daily Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Aug 13, 1968, page 11 - The Weirton Daily Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ "West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Inductees" (PDF). West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Gene Lamone (1995) - WVU Sports Hall of Fame". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  7. ↑ Kinder, Kevin (November 26, 2021). "West Virginia's top 10 offensive linemen of all time". WV News. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ Taylor, G. Allan (April 8, 2020). "Backyard Brawl edition: The best players to wear every jersey number". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Mountaineers Get in Some Physical Work Inside the Stadium on Tuesday". West Virginia University Athletics. August 6, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Sweet as Sugar: The 70th Anniversary of West Virginia's Sugar Bowl Season". West Virginia University Athletics. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Sam Huff (1991) - WVU Sports Hall of Fame". West Virginia University Athletics. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ "HailWV All-Time WVU Fantasy Football Draft: Rounds 7-9". Hail WV. November 1, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
  13. ↑ "1955 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Gene Lamone Pro Football Stats, Position, College, Draft, Transactions". www.profootballarchives.com. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
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