cause of death was later determined to be ischaemic heart disease, or (according to a subsequent examination of the autopsy report) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was considered to be the NFL's fourth football-related death after Detroit Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes died of a heart attack in a 1971 game against the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals tight end J.V. Cain had a fatal heart attack during training camp in 1979 and Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer died of heatstroke during training camp in 2001. On September 2, 2005, the 49ers established the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award, which will be given to the player who best exemplifies his spirit. In 2006, the Kilgore College TRIO Learning Center was dedicated to Herrion's memory and renamed as the "Thomas L. Herrion TRIO Learning Center." In 2018, he was inducted into the Kilgore College Athletics Hall of Fame. Personal life Herrion was a musician who played the drums in his church band. On the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, former 49er coach Mike Nolan commended Herrion for being "musical". References External links Utes Mourn The Passing Of Former Teammate Thomas Herrion 1981 births 2005 deaths American football offensive guards Deaths from cardiomyopathy Dallas Cowboys players Hamburg Sea Devils players Kilgore Rangers football players San Francisco 49ers players Players of American football from Fort Worth, Texas Sports deaths in Colorado Sportspeople from Fort Worth, Texas Utah Utes football players