Eugene Lamone

Eugene Lamone

No. 72
Positions	Guard, Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born	(1933-04-24) April 24, 1933 Wellsburg, West Virginia
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school	Wellsburg
College	West Virginia
NFL draft	1955: 5th round, 57th overall pick
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (1955–1957) Cleveland Browns (1957)
Awards and highlights
Second-team AP All-American (1953) Third-team AP All-American (1954) All-Southern Conference selection (1954) Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner (1954)
Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Not to be confused with Gene Lamont.

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.

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. 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.

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

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.

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. He played alongside Mountaineer legends like Bruce Bosley, Sam Huff, Fred Wyant, and Joe Marconi. During his sophomore season, WVU’s 24–0 win over George Washington University launched a school-record streak of 30 consecutive Southern Conference victories.

Professional

Lamone was selected in the fifth round of the 1955 NFL draft (57th overall pick). 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.

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.