Category: "Athletics "
Inaugural Inductee
Ray was born: January 21, 1941 in Bakersfield, CA moved to Kennewick and was part of the KHS graduating class of 1959 Ray was offered professional baseball contracts by 6 major league organizations his senior year at KHS.
Ray was selected as an All-Conference and All-American Center while playing at the University of Washington and in 1961 Played Defensive tackle for UW Rose Bowl, Hula Bowl All Star game in Hawaii, The East-West Shrine All Star game in San Francisco and finally the College All-Star game when the collegians defeated the NFL Champions Green Bay Packers.Ray played Defensive tackle and center in the NFL for 14 years (1 year with Philadelphia Eagles and 13 with the Pittsburgh Steelers) He:
was the starting center for the Steelers in Super Bowls IX and X
was voted best blocker in NFL 1973
was named to All Conference team several times during career
never missed a football game from Park Jr. High, Kennewick High, University of Washington and the NFL
holds the Pittsburgh Steelers record for consecutive games played
kicked extra points for Steelers in 1975 playoffs when kicker was injured (never missed one).
Ray made Kennewick famous in Western Pennsylvania with stories in his speeches about growing up here. All his Steelers teammates knew about the "Golden City of the West" Kennewick, Washington. He loved his home town and Kennewick High School. He even made Mean Joe Greene memorize the KHS fight song,stand on a chair during a team meal, and sing it at his rookie initiation in training camp.
Ray unfortunately passed away : November 3, 1996 while hiking in the Grand Canyon in Arizona.