Kilmer, Billy

Sons Of Westwood: Bruin Legends

BILLY KILMER

Highlights

• Lettered as single-wing halfback in 1958,59,60.
• Led team in total offense, passing, and punting in both 1959 and 60.
• Also led team in rushing and scoring in 1960.
• Led nation in total offense in 1960.
• Was a 1st round selection (11th pick overall) in the 1961 NFL Draft (San Francisco 49ers). Was also selected by Los Angeles Chargers of the Old AFL.
• Played for San Francisco, New Orleans, and Washington.
• Part of Super Bowl team with Washington (1973).
• Pro Bowl selection in 1972.

Accolades

• Earned All-American honors in 1960
• Finished 5th in Heisman Trophy voting in 1960.
• Was Team MVP in 1960.
• Charter member of the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.
• Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

MEMOIRS OF A FAN

The guy was Mr. Everything for the Bruins in 1960. When he was on the field you (probably should say I) thought nothing was impossible for the team. Loved that single step fwd. he would take as the tail back faking the run then would pass. When he did run he was terrific, he had more brass than anyone should ever have.

I remember the last game of the season in '60, I took my boss to the game. BRUINS vs the #10 Duke blue Devils. Duke never new what hit them,...score 27 to 6 and it wasn't that close. The Bruins & Kilmer went through Duke like a physic.

I lived in Monrovia at that time and Bill's Aunt and Uncle owned Kilmers Cleaners on Huntington Dr. in Monrovia and they would post the scores on their sign out side the business. Great memories..., Bill Kilmer was indeed something to see.

- bigtmebruin

Billy was tough as nails and had some natural padding around the middle that was an excellent shock absorber. During the '60 game v $C they tried to knock him out of the game, but like the energizer bunny he took a lickin' and kept on tickin'

- SagoBob

Seeing him out of uniform you might never guess he ever played football, much less excelled at it. He came from Citrus JC where he made All America.

I don't think USC ever pursued him because he was a single wing tailback, and I recall a conversation with a USC fan at the time of his recruitment. This intellectually challenged Trojan asked me what I thought we had in someone who wasn't that big, fast or a pin point passer? I said something like, "Yeah, all he can do is win."

- DocJock