Robert Cero Paremore was born three months premature, in Tallahassee Florida in 1938. As a result of his delicate condition at birth, his mother nicknamed him “China Doll”, which remained with him throughout his life. His performance in football and track belied that moniker, however, as he excelled in both sports in high school and at Florida A & M University. A teammate of Bob Hayes, he achieved track fame by beating Hayes in a 100 yard meet,  posting a time of 9.3 seconds. He became the first player from that school to make the NCAA football  “Little All America” team and was subsequently drafted in the third round of the 1963 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals but saw limited action with the team in 1963 and 1964 as a halfback and wide receiver. In September 1965 he became the first player signed by the new Atlanta Falcons franchise would not begin operations until 1966. As a result he played in the Northern American Football League for the Florida Brahmans in 1965.  Paremore was released by the Falcons during their inaugural training camp in August 1966. He then signed the Montreal Alouettes that same month when  an injury to starting halfback J.W. Lockett left the team without a speedy outside threat to offset fullback Don Lisbon, Paremore enjoyed early success, leading the division in rushing until first a rib and then a knee injury placed him on injury reserve. As it was, Paremore still finished third in the East in rushing with 649 yards, behind only Lisbon and the great Dave Thelen.   In February 1967 he was traded to the Calgary Stampeders for Barry Randall and Mike Gray. Paremore began the next season (1968) with Calgary as a starter but was released in October of that year. Paremore returned to Tallahassee during the late seventies. He taught school and coached at Godby High School for thirty-two years before he retired. He was inducted into the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2000, and passed away July 22, 2004.

[Biography written by Wes Cross]

Bob Paramore at FAMU in 1962 - Miami News

NFL Stats for Bob Paremore

FAMU Great Bob Paremore Dies - New York Beacon