Gammon attended the University of Georgia and played football on the 1896 and 1897 teams under Glenn "Pop" Warner and Charles McCarthy.

He was on his feet in a few minutes, however, and was being taken off the field by Coach McCarthy, when captain and later judge William B. Kent, not realizing how badly he was hurt, said to him: "Von, you are not going to give up, are you?"

News spread of Von Gammon's death and the people were devastated as were the Virginia players.

She mentioned in her letter how his two friends were killed in rock climbing and skating accidents, and how those sports were not banned.

Less than three years after Von's death, his brother Will died when he fell under a train following a baseball game in Cartersville, Georgia.