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Devoted 85-year-old Gator gets quite a surprise
By Olivia Vega
CorrespondentPublished: Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 8:28 p.m.Erica Brough/The Gainesville SunUniversity of Florida head football coach Jim McElwain, left, surprises former trainer and current season ticket holder since 1973, Hill Brannon Jr., 85, right, who attended his first Florida football game in 1939, (the Florida vs. Georgia Tech game on Nov. 25, 1939), to thank him for his support of the program with a signed football and jersey on Thursday.Hill Brannon loves the Gators.
He has a room lined with prized possessions from his alma mater, including his degree, his Florida Blue Key membership and a varsity award from his time as the football team manager back in the early '50s.
He was told he was going to be featured in a promo commercial for the team about how his "Gators Story" has evolved over the many years he's spent dedicated to UF.
But when the 85-year-old yelled "come in" to the stranger knocking while he was in the middle of being interviewed, the last thing he expected was to see Jim McElwain walk through his door.
The Gators head coach surprised Brannon with a jersey and signed football on Thursday afternoon to thank him for his relentless support of the program.
"I'm honored, I got the head ball coach here," Brannon said.
Brannon's love for the Gators began at an early age.
He attended his first Gator game back in 1939 when he was 9 years old, and it was no coincidence when McElwain presented him with a game-worn jersey sporting the number 39.
In addition, McElwain signed a football, which was emblazoned with the Gators logo, and handed it to Brannon.
"That's one of the best gifts I've ever had," Brannon said. "It's about to get real emotional."
Brannon joked about buying a new stand for the ball and putting in a spotlight.
Brannon and McElwain, both clad in Gators gear, talked about the upcoming football season, and McElwain discussed the history Brannon has had with the team.
Each fall, the university recognizes Brannon with an endowment known as the "Fabulous '50s Hill Brannon Endowment," awarded to a student in the College of Health and Human Performance, according to the UF Foundation website.
Brannon was team manager back when the Gators brought home their first bowl victory back on New Year's Day in 1953.
Twenty-five years later, in 1977, he, along with Charlie LaPradd, co-captain of the 1952 team, helped organize a reunion for the team members.
The first reunion went so well that it turned into an annual celebration known as the "Fabulous '50s" and expanded to include all team members from coach Bob Woodruff's era, 1950 to 1959.
The endowment was initially funded by three of Brannon's peers as a surprise in his honor.
McElwain said Brannon's history spoke volumes about the passion and commitment he had to UF.
As the self-described "eternal optimist," Brannon said he had great faith in the coach's upcoming season.
"I wish you all the success in the world, and I think you're gonna have it," Brannon said to McElwain. He mentioned that he wasn't the "lone ranger" in thinking so.
McElwain said if Brannon were the Lone Ranger, "it'd be great to be (his) Tonto." The coach said he looked forward to bringing Brannon back some wins.
As Brannon looked around at the coach, press and film crew, he had just one thing to say.
"Tell you what: I feel like a celebrity."
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