Ray Jennison
{{Short description|American football player (1910–1990)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ray Jennison
| image = File:Ray Jennison, South Dakota State.png
| caption = Jennison, {{circa}} 1929
| number = 31, 24
| position = Tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|1|19}}
| birth_place = Onida, South Dakota, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1990|5|13|1910|1|19}}
| death_place = Bay Pines, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 224
| high_school = Avon
(Avon, South Dakota)
| college = South Dakota State (1927–1930)
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers (1931)
- Rock Island Greenbush (1931)
- Cincinnati Reds ({{NFL Year|1933}})*
- Indianapolis Indians (1933)
- St. Louis Gunners (1933–1934)
- Tulsa Oilers (1934)
| highlights =
- NFL champion (1931)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 2
| pfr = J/JennRa20
}}
Raymond Ellis Jennison (né Jenison; January 19, 1910 – May 13, 1990) was an American professional football tackle. He played college football for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits. He later played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers in 1931, appearing in two games as they won the NFL championship. He also played with several other professional teams in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. After his football career, he served as a colonel in the United States Army and as a military attaché in Europe.
Early life
Jennison was born in Onida, South Dakota, on January 19, 1910.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kentucky-new-era/164983907/|newspaper=Kentucky New Era|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 16, 1990|page=2|title=Raymond Jennison}} {{Open access}} His family spelled their last name "Jenison", but he said that "people were always misspelling it," and so he later legally changed his last name to "Jennison".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-obituary-for-raymond-e/164984201/|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 16, 1990|page=42|title=Raymond E. Jennison, executive, was player for Green Bay Packers|author=Basse, Craig}} {{Open access}} He attended Avon High School in South Dakota, and is their only alumnus to play in the NFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93bd706a|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Avon (Avon, SD) Alumni Pro Stats|access-date=February 12, 2025}} After high school, Jennison enrolled at South Dakota State College (SDSU) in 1927.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/j/jenn02000.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Ray Jennison Stats|access-date=February 12, 2025}}
Jennison played for SDSU's freshman football team that year as a lineman.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/rapid-city-journal/164985939/|newspaper=Rapid City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 29, 1927|page=7|title=State College Frosh Expect Good Eleven|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} He then made the varsity team in 1928 and started at right tackle, helping South Dakota State finish as runner-up in the North Central Conference (NCC) while being named first-team All-NCC.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164991156/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 6, 1928|page=20|title=Five S. D. State Gridders On All-Conference Eleven|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} Described as one of the team's "huskiest linemen", he won All-NCC honors again in 1929.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164991788/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 16, 1929|page=8|title=Star State Tackle}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-forum/164992210/|newspaper=The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead|via=Newspapers.com|author=Purcell, J. A.|date=November 24, 1929|page=16|title=Many Stars Perform in Interesting North Central Season}} {{Open access}} The biggest player on the team at {{convert|198|lb|kg}}, he was named captain as a senior in 1930.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164992526/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 15, 1930|page=8|title=In Jackrabbit Rushline}} {{Open access}} After the season, he was named second-team All-NCC by the Associated Press (AP).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164992753/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 6, 1930|page=9|title=North Central Team Includes None From S. D.|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}}
Jennison was nicknamed "Bozo".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sioux-valley-news/164993024/|newspaper=Sioux Valley News|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 19, 1931|page=1|title=Professional Football Player Visits Canton}} {{Open access}} With South Dakota State, he served as athletic director and basketball coach for SDSU's school of agriculture.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164994164/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 14, 1931|page=4|title="Aggie" School To Open Monday}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164994223/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 28, 1930|page=9|title=Jenison to Coach 'Aggie' Quintet at State College}} {{Open access}} He was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) in college.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164992869/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 5, 1930|page=4|title=State College Cadets Take High Camp Honor}} {{Open access}} He also competed as a boxer and wrestler, winning competitions in those sports at ROTC events. In June 1931, Jennison was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. military reserves.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/164993787/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 3, 1931|page=15|title=114 Sophomores Apply For Military Courses}} {{Open access}}
Jennison earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from South Dakota State.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-obituary-for-raymond-e/75855225/|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|date=May 16, 1990|page=146|title=Jennison, Raymond E.|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}
Professional career
After college, Jennison signed to play professional football for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, and played with them early in the 1931 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus/164996505/|newspaper=The Rock Island Argus|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 24, 1931|page=15|title=Cardinals Here Sunday}} {{Open access}} Playing tackle, he appeared in two games for the Packers in 1931, both as a starter, as they went on to win the NFL championship. However, he had left the team by October and joined the Rock Island Greenbush, an independent team that played against the Chicago Cardinals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1931rockg.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1931 Rock Island Greenbush|access-date=February 12, 2025}} He returned to South Dakota in November and told the Sioux Valley News of his experience as a Packer, noting that the professional game "is faster and cleaner than college football, but ... the old college spirit [is] lacking in many crucial times."
In 1932, Jennison returned to school and received a degree.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-times/164998127/|newspaper=The Indianapolis Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 12, 1933|page=13|title=Grid Tribe Signs Two}} {{Open access}} He also competed as a wrestler when not playing pro football.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/164997885/|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 18, 1933|page=16|title=Two More Signed}} {{Open access}} In August 1933, he signed with the NFL's Cincinnati Reds. However, he was later released, without having appeared in any games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/j/jenn02000.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Ray Jennison NFL Transactions|access-date=February 12, 2025}} In early September, he joined the Indianapolis Indians prior to their game against the NFL's Portsmouth Spartans. Later that month, he left for the St. Louis Gunners to play guard.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/60513259/|newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 30, 1933|page=15|title=Gunners Add Star Blocker For Opener}} {{Open access}} He missed some time for the Gunners that season due to a dislocated shoulder.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/164998590/|newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 31, 1933|page=12|title=Gunners To Face Blackhawks Next}} {{Open access}} He began the 1934 season with the Gunners but was later purchased in October by the Tulsa Oilers of the American Football League (AFL).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tulsa-tribune/164998926/|newspaper=The Tulsa Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 31, 1934|page=12|title=New Tackle}} {{Open access}} He appeared in four games for the Oilers, three as a starter, as they placed sixth in the league with a record of 1–5–1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1934afltul.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=1934 Tulsa Oilers (AFL)|access-date=February 12, 2025}}
Later life and death
Jennison married Marie R. Jennison in 1935, but they later separated in 1936.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/164999384/|newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 17, 1937|page=3|title=Alimony to Be Paid Mrs. Jennison Too Little, Court Rules}} {{Open access}} As of 1937, he was working as a salesman for a plow company. He was later remarried to Mary Garnett Jennison of Kentucky, and the two had a son and a daughter.
Jennison served in the United States Army. He served in World War II, and according to the Argus-Leader, he "saw action in nearly every theater of war, from the Dieppen raid {{sic}} to Tunisia where he aided in the defeat of Rummell's Afrika Corps {{sic}}, to England after Dunkirk and to North Africa."{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader/165000646/|newspaper=Argus-Leader|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 15, 1953|page=5|title=Avon Soldier Says British 'Complacent'|author=Van Dusen, Effie}} {{Open access}} He later served as a military attaché in Paris, France, and London, England, and retired with the rank of colonel.
Jennison lived in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, for a time, before later moving to Washington, D.C., and then to South Pasadena, Florida. In Washington, D.C., he served as president of the American Corn Millers Federation and the American Society of Association Executives, while he was also the governor of 157 clubs for Toastmasters International and a charter member of the Elks Lodge in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He was also a member of the Magnolia Lodge and a president of the South Dakota Society. While in Florida, he served as president of the St. Petersburg Beach High Noon Lions Club and the Optimist Club of Bay Islands. He was a member of the Pasadena Community Church.
Jennison died on May 13, 1990, at the age of 80, at the VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, Florida.
References
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{{1931 Green Bay Packers}}
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Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:South Dakota State Jackrabbits football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:Players of American football from South Dakota
Category:People from Sanborn County, South Dakota