HUGH (SHORTY) RAY CLASS OF 1966 PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

Hugh Ray was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for “his outstanding contributions to the rules of professional football.” At that time the Hall called Ray the “Rules Book Author.” These are some key quotes from his original HOF Biography which has been changed drastically since 1966 in a disturbing case of historical revisionism.

“Many insist that Ray is pro football’s ‘unknown hero’ who saved the game from extinction half a century ago and played the major role in making the sport the fast-paced, wide-open game of today.” “The National Federation of State High School Athletic Associations asked Ray to write a football code. It was a masterpiece, a model for all future rule books at every level.” “When Ray retired because of failing health in 1952 Halas was among many who lauded his efforts. ‘I’ve always thought my finest contribution to pro football was bringing Shorty Ray into the NFL.’”

Since 1978 the Pro Football Hall of Fame has deleted its reference to Ray as the “Rules Book Author” and Ray’s Biography has been severely diminished. It appears that power, money, greed and some large egos are behind this blatant revisionism. I discovered that Hugh L. Ray owned the copyright to the rules though his vast body of work. I believe this explains some of Ray’s scandalous treatment. The Hall of Fame for any sport should be an unimpeachable repository of its history. Not some vehicle for powerful owners and league bosses to control.

Please like and share this post with your football friends. Thanks!

If you would like to learn more about American football history and this great rules visionary, read “Hugh L. Ray, THE NFL’S MR. EINSTEIN: Master Designer of the Modern Game” by James W. Stangeland, available atAmazon.com/books or visit www.hughrayfootball.com

Charlotte J. Ray with the bust of her late husband Hugh L. Ray at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, September 17, 1966.

Copyright © Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

Hugh "Shorty" Ray

Hugh “Shorty” Ray

Speak Your Mind

*