The Eagles organization was saddened to learn on Saturday that former punter, quarterback and area scout King Hill passed away at the age of 75 after a long battle with cancer.

Hill played with the Eagles from 1961-68 and finished his career with a 42.38-yard average on his 254 punts. Hill's best season was in 1961 when he averaged 43.69 yards per kick. Hill's career gross punting average ranks fourth in team history and his 80-yard kick against Green Bay on November 11, 1962 is tied for third-longest in franchise history.

Hill started 17 games and played in a total of 71 games for the team, passing for 4,308 yards and 29 touchdowns.

He was the team's regional scout for the Western United States and Canada from 1986-92.

Hill was drafted first overall by the Chicago Cardinals in 1958 before joining the Eagles. At that time, the Eagles were a team in transition at quarterback after the retirement of Norm Van Brocklin following the 1960 NFL Championship win. Hill traded playing time with Sonny Jurgensen and Norm Snead as the Eagles searched for answers at the position.

"We never had to waste a roster spot because King could handle both roles," said Jim Gallagher on Saturday night, then in charge of the team's public relations. "The writers who covered the team used to joke that they didn't know who was going to play quarterback. It was kind of a revolving door back then.

"King was a real gentleman, a real classy guy. He was a quiet guy, a great golfer and a good person. He did a lot for us. Everybody liked King a lot. He had a nice smile to him was just one of those kind of guys."

Hill, who played collegiately at Rice, was traded to the Vikings after the 1968 season and he played there for one season before finishing with the Cards in 1968. Hill then spent the rest of his football life coaching and scouting.

"Everyone who met King loved him. He was a good ballhandler. That impressed me," said Gallagher, a member of the Eagles' Hall of Fame. "If you knew King, you loved him. He was that kind of a guy."