Kim Hammond

Kim Crane Hammond (October 12, 1944 – July 16, 2017) was a judge in Flagler County, Florida and was a quarterback for Florida State University.

For Seminole fans, he is best remembered for quarterbacking the team's first victory over rival Florida in Gainesville, 21–16.

The family moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1955.

Hammond attended Melbourne High School where he was an outstanding athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball.

Hammond was close friends with former US Senator and Administrator of NASA Bill Nelson, whom he called "Billy".

On the baseball diamond, Hammond pitched and Nelson caught.

They remained close throughout their lives.

Hammond attended FSU on a football scholarship.

After a year as a redshirt, then two as backup to Gary Pajcic, Hammond got his first start in the second game of his senior year against Alabama when Pajcic was injured.

The Crimson Tide was riding a 21-game winning streak, but Hammond and the Seminoles were ready.

FSU had lost in 1965 by the score of 21-0, but instead of being dominated, they embarrassed Bear Bryant by scoring more points than Alabama had allowed the entire previous season.

The final score was 37-37, but the tie was probably the most impressive game the Seminoles had played.

Referring to Hammond, Bryant said, “He picked us apart like he was picking a chicken.”

FSU lost its next game to North Carolina State 20-10 before winning the remaining 7 regular season games.

As a reward for their 7-2-1 season, they were invited to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.

Hammond played in the 1967 Senior Bowl and was named MVP.

He was a second-team All-American quarterback in his senior year and finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.

FSU coaches and players chose Hammond for the Bob Crenshaw Award in 1967.

Hammond was invited to play in the 1968 Senior Bowl where he earned the Most Valuable Player honor.

A 6th round selection (142nd overall pick) of the 1968 Common Draft, Hammond played two seasons in the American Football League, for the Miami Dolphins and the Boston Patriots, respectively, in 1968 and 1969.

Hammond played in six games in his short professional career, completing 15 of 32 passes for 147 total yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.

He also scored two points on a conversion.

During the football off-season, he attended classes in 1968 and 1969 with tuition paid from his pro football earnings.

Following the 1970 season he retired from football to finish law school.

After graduating from law school in 1972 and passing the Florida Bar (number 151399), he and his wife moved to Daytona Beach where he joined the law office of Green and Strasser.

During his six years of part-time service in the National Guard was a Military Police officer before his service ended in 1973.

A few years later he became a principal in the law firm, Green, Strasser and Hammond.

After seven years in private practice he had distinguished himself such that Governor Bob Graham appointed him Circuit Judge for the Seventh Judicial Circuit.

Hammond was also on the roster of the World Football League's Jacksonville Sharks in 1974.

Hammond did not attempt a pass for the Sharks, and he was sacked twice for a net loss of 15 yards.

Hammond graduated from FSU with a bachelor's degree in Business Management and immediately enrolled in the FSU College of Law.

However, his college deferral had expired, so he chose to join the Florida National Guard rather than serve a year of active military duty in the United States Army Reserve.

The Florida State University Hall of Fame inducted him in 1978.

In 1997, Hammond was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame for his performance in the 1967 postseason game against Penn State.

The Nittany Lions were ranked 10th nationally under second year coach Joe Paterno, and favored by two touchdowns over the upstart Noles.

Down 17-0 at halftime, the Seminole defense shut down their opponents and Hammond threw for 362 yards and one touchdown and ran for another as FSU scored 17 unanswered points for a tie.

Hammond was named MVP for the game.

Hammond died on Sunday, July 16, 2017, after suffering from illnesses for several years.

Hammond was born in Miami, the younger of two sons born to William and Virginia Hammond.

His father worked for Pan American Airways as a flight supervisor.