Read what pro football’s greatest pioneers and sportswriters have said about Hugh Ray.
GEORGE HALAS
“I’ve always thought my finest contribution to pro football was bringing Shorty Ray into the NFL.” August, 1952. “He [Ray] organized and simplified and rewrote the National Football League Rules.”October 21, 1977
George Halas: Legendary founder, owner and coach of the Chicago Bears. Halas is the patriarch of the NFL and its second most winning coach.
ART ROONEY
“I need not tell you what a good friend your Grandfather was to me…Your research proves what his work has done not only for the National Football League, but football period.” April 4, 1978
Art Rooney: Iconic founder and owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rooney was a long-time member of the NFL Rules Committee and a beloved pillar of the league.
PAUL BROWN
Hugh Ray “was responsible for many of the rules and the writing of them in the NFL. He was an expert in this field, besides being an outstanding official and director of officials. He contributed a great deal to football in general and the NFL in particular.” May 10, 1978.
Paul Brown: Coach and namesake of the Cleveland Browns who later became the founder, owner, and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. Brown is considered the NFL’s greatest coach.
GEORGE STRICKLER
The Chicago Tribune
“Hugh L. Ray brought about a complete change to the game of footballand officiating…Ray rewrote the pro code.” September 17, 1956.
George Strickler: An award winning sports editor for The Chicago Tribune, Strickler was the first president of the Pro Football Writers of America and a Hall of Fame selector.
LEWIS F. ATCHISON
The Washington Star
“Shorty Ray…brought the pass to full-flower by streamlining the ball.” February, 1956
Lewis F. Atchison: The award winning sports columnist for The Washington Star, Atchison was the second president of the Pro Football Writers of America and a Hall of Fame selector.
The National Football League
“Hugh L. ‘Shorty’ Ray…” Author of rules.” 1957-65 NFL Record and Rules Manual
Pro Football Hall Of Fame
“Hugh (Shorty) Ray…Rules Book Author.” “He [Ray] was the editor of the pro rule book for many years, he wrote the high school code, which served as a model for all grid rule books.” “Ray saved a dull game from extinction and played the major role in making the sport the fast-paced, wide-open game of today.” September 17, 1966.
