Ray Terrell

Terrell in 1946

Position:

Halfback, Defensive back

Personal information

Date of birth:

June 29, 1919

Place of birth:

Water Valley, Mississippi

Date of death:

February 11, 1997 (aged 77)

Place of death:

Gulfport, Mississippi

Height:

6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)

Weight:

185 lb (84 kg)

Career information

College:

University of Mississippi

Career history

Career highlights and awards

2× AAFC Champion (1946, 1947)

Career NFL statistics as of 1947

Games:	23
Rushing Yards:	165
Player stats at NFL.com

Player stats at PFR

Raymond Willard Terrell (June 29, 1919 – February 11, 1997) was a professional American football halfback and defensive back who played two seasons for the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Colts in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

Terrell attended the University of Mississippi, where he played as a halfback on its football team. He joined the U.S. military in 1942 during World War II, and upon his discharge was signed by the Browns, then a team under formation in the new AAFC. Terrell returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown in the Browns' first game, a team record that stood for 14 years. The Browns went on to win the first AAFC championship, but Terrell was sent to the Colts after the season as part of a league-led effort to distribute talent more evenly among its teams. He was released by the Colts midway through the 1947 season, however, and returned to the Browns. The team proceeded to win a second AAFC championship.

College and professional career

Terrell was born in Mississippi and attended the University of Mississippi, where he played as a halfback on the football team.^[1] He entered the U.S. Navy in 1942 during World War II and played football for a team at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, where he was stationed.^[2] He moved to the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 and played for another team at Camp Lejune in North Carolina.^[3]

Terrell was signed by the Cleveland Browns of the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC) in 1946.^[1] He played on offense and defense for the Browns, and in the team's first game against the Miami Seahawks he returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown, a team record that stood for 14 years.^[4] The Browns won the AAFC's first championship game at the end of the season.^[5]

Terrell was one of several Browns players sent to the struggling Baltimore Colts after the season in an attempt to balance talent among the AAFC's teams.^[6] He was cut by the Colts in the middle of the 1947 season, however, and tried to regain his position on the Browns' roster after several of the team's halfbacks suffered injuries.^[6] "We're going to take a good look at him and if we're convinced that Ray has was he had when he was with us last year we will sign him," Cleveland coach Paul Brown said at the time.^[6] Terrell was re-signed by the Browns shortly thereafter and played in several games at the end of the season.^[7] The Browns won a second AAFC championship in 1947.^[8]

References

1 2 "Miller To Serve As Assistant Grid Coach Of Browns". Cleveland Plain Dealer. May 21, 1946. p. 19.
↑ Wheeler, Romney (September 5, 1942). "The Dixie Sports Huddle". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Atlanta. Associated Press. p. 2. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
↑ "Power-Laden Dukes Swamp Marines, 40-0". The Pittsburgh Press. Durham, N.C. United Press International. September 19, 1943. p. 14. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
↑ Piascik 2007, p. 49.
↑ Piascik 2007, p. 64.
1 2 3 Sauerbrei, Harold (November 20, 1947). "Terrell Bids to Regain Old Berth With Browns". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 25.
↑ Sauerbrei, Harold (November 23, 1947). "Browns, Yankees May Play In Rain". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. 2B. Ray Terrell will return to the Cleveland line-up again for the first time since he played an outstanding role in the Browns' playoff triumph over New York last season. Recently released by Baltimore, Terrell was signed by the Browns yesterday when Greenwood was placed on the voluntary retired list for the balance of the season.
↑ Piascik 2007, p. 81.

Bibliography

Piascik, Andy (2007). The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-571-6.

External links

Ray Terrell at Pro-Football-Reference.com

Cleveland Browns 1946 AAFC champions (inaugural season roster)

20 Mike Scarry 22 Frank Gatski 24 Mel Maceau 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 George Cheroke 36 Ed Ulinski 38 Bob Kolesar 39 Alex Kapter 40 Jim Daniell 42 Chet Adams 44 Lou Rymkus 46 Lou Groza 48 Ernie Blandin 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young 54 John Rokisky 55 John Harrington 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Al Coppage 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 64 Bud Schwenk 66 Lou Saban 70 Gene Fekete 74 Gaylon Smith 76 Marion Motley 80 Al Akins 82 Bill Lund 84 Ray Terrell 85 Don Greenwood 88 Bob Steuber 90 Edgar Jones 92 Tom Colella 99 Fred Evans

Head coach: Paul Brown

Assistant coaches: John Brickels Blanton Collier Red Conkright Fritz Heisler Creighton Miller Bob Voigts

Cleveland Browns 1947 AAFC champions

20 Mike Scarry 22 Frank Gatski 24 Mel Maceau 30 Bill Willis 32 Lin Houston 34 Bob Gaudio 36 Ed Ulinski 38 Weldon Humble 39 Alex Kapter 42 Chet Adams 44 Lou Rymkus 45 Roman Piskor 46 Lou Groza 48 Ernie Blandin 49 Lenny Simonetti 50 John Yonakor 52 George Young 53 Marshall Shurnas 56 Dante Lavelli 58 Mac Speedie 59 Horace Gillom 60 Otto Graham 62 Cliff Lewis 66 Ermal Allen 70 Spiro Dellerba 72 Lou Saban 74 Tony Adamle 76 Marion Motley 80 Bob Cowan 82 Bill Lund 84 Ray Terrell 85 Don Greenwood 86 Lew Mayne 90 Edgar Jones 92 Tommy Colella 94 Jim Dewar 99 Bill Boedeker

Head coach: Paul Brown

Assistant coaches: John Brickels Blanton Collier Bill Edwards Dick Gallagher Fritz Heisler

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