Football and track ace for Edward Little High School and continuing his football heroics at the University of Maine, the true measure of Gene Benner's prowess in sports lies in the fact that some of his receiving records with the Maine Black Bears are still standing.

Benner was an All-State selection as a classy end with Edward Little's football forces in 1964 and 1965.

Gene crowned his brilliant track career by winning three events (both high and low hurdles and the long jump) and placing second in the triple jump for Edward Little's state Class A Track Champions.

Multiple football honors followed at U Maine as his track aptitude was well displayed as a speedy, elusive receiver. Distinctions included: Most receptions in a game, 14; most yards in a game, 215; most touchdowns in a season, 6.

Benner was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 1970 National Football League draft. He played one season with the Hartford Knights of the former Atlantic Coast League and received the Governor's Cup as the state's outstanding athlete in 1969.

Benner was inducted into the Lewiston-Auburn Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.

Gene and his wife, Ellen have two children, Derek and Amy.