Ray Gene Smith
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|American football player (1928–2005)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ray Gene Smith
| image = Ray Smith - 1954 Bowman.jpg
| upright = .8
| caption = Smith on a 1954 Bowman football card
| number = 20
| position = Defensive back
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|11|27}}
| birth_place = Anadarko, Oklahoma, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|8|16|1928|11|27}}
| death_place = Garland, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 187
| high_school = Lawton (Lawton, Oklahoma)
| college = Hardin
| undraftedyear =
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1954}}–{{NFL Year|1957}})
|highlights=
- Second-team All-Pro (1956)
| pfr = S/SmitRa22
}}
Ray Gene Smith (November 27, 1928 – August 16, 2005) was an American professional football defensive back who played four seasons with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Cameron State Agricultural College and Hardin College.
Early life and college
Ray Gene Smith was born on November 27, 1928, in Anadarko, Oklahoma.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/smit32400.html | title=RAY GENE SMITH | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=15 May 2025}} He attended Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma.
Smith first played college football at Cameron State Agricultural College. He was later a two-year starter for the Hardin Indians of Hardin College—now known as Midwestern State University.{{cite web | url=https://msumustangs.com/honors/hall-of-honor/ray-gene-smith/134 | title=Ray Gene Smith | publisher=Midwestern State University | accessdate=15 May 2025}} He was inducted into Midwestern State's Hall of Honor in 2013.{{cite web |title=Midwestern State Mustangs Hall of Honor |url=https://msumustangs.com/honors/hall-of-honor |website=Midwestern State Hall of Honor |access-date=18 June 2025}}
Professional career
After graduating from Midwestern State University in 1950, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years. After leaving the Marines, he played for the Chicago Bears where in 1956, he was named a second-team All-NFL performer by the New York Daily News.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitRa22.htm | title=Ray Gene Smith | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=15 May 2025}} He played in 40 career games, all starts, for the Bears from 1954 to 1957, recording nine interceptions for 124 yards, 27 punt returns for 156 yards, four kick returns for 78 yards, and four receptions for 50 yards. Smith also started one playoff game in 1956.
Personal life
After 1957, he decided to return to academia at the University of Texas Law School graduating in 1962 with his Juris Doctor.{{Cite web |last=e-yearbook.com (tm) |title=University of Texas School of Law - Peregrinus Yearbook (Austin, TX), Class of 1962, Cover |url=https://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/University_Texas_Law_School_Peregrinus_Yearbook/1962/Page_1.html |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=e-yearbook.com |language=en-US}} He practiced criminal law in Wichita Falls, Texas for 35 years.{{Cite web |date=2005-08-19 |title=Ray Gene Smith |url=https://www.swoknews.com/almanac/ray-gene-smith/article_a0b7e05d-b61b-54ea-938d-bb9f7de0a34a.html |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=The Lawton Constitution |language=en}} During his time practicing law, he was suspended more than once for neglecting a client's file[https://www.txcourts.gov/All_Archived_Documents/SupremeCourt/AdministrativeOrders/miscdocket/97/97-9214.pdf The Commission for Lawyer Discipline v. Ray Gene Smith] (The Supreme Court of Texas December 3, 1997). and ultimately disbarred when he was 73 on September 17, 2002.{{Cite web |title=April, 2002 |url=https://www.law.uh.edu/libraries/ethics/attydiscipline/2002/04da2002.html |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=www.law.uh.edu}} In his lifetime, he had a daughter, two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two brothers. He died at the age of 76 in Garland, Texas and was buried at Anadarko City Cemetery.
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Ray Gene}}
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Cameron Aggies (junior college) football players
Category:Midwestern State Mustangs football players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:People from Anadarko, Oklahoma
Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma
Category:University of Texas School of Law alumni
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War