Ray R. Evans
All-American in two sports, Ray Evans was one of the first two
football All-Americans at Kansas University (1947) and a two-time Helms
Foundation basketball All-American (1942 and 1943). Evans was a
five-time All-Big-Six performer in basketball and football and helped
the Jayhawks win five conference championships in those sports. After an
all-state prep career at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City, he
attended KU two years (1941-1943) before spending three years in the
United States Air Force during World War II. Following the war, he
helped lead Kansas to a pair of Big Six football championships (1946 and
1947) and a spot in the 1948 Orange Bowl where he scored both Jayhawk
touchdowns in a 20-14 loss to Georgia Tech. Evans led the nation in
passing in 1942 with 101 completions in 200 attempts for 1,117 yards and
once owned the NCAA record of 60 passes attempted without an
interception. His KU school record of 3,799 yards of total offense stood
for over 20 years and his records of 10 interceptions in a season and 17
for his career were still standing in 1996. Evans was selected as a
member of KU's all-time football team in 1969. He played one year in the
National Football League with Pittsburgh after being selected by the
Steelers in the first round of the 1948 NFL draft. Inducted into the
Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, 1978; Helms Foundation College Football Hall
of Fame, Helms Foundation College Basketball Hall of Fame and the
University of Kansas Athletic Hall of Fame in both sports. (Presented by
the Edith and Harry Darby Foundation)
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Football All-American
at KU
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Two-time basketball
All-American at KU
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Five-time All-Big-Six
performer in basketball and football
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Led NCAA in passing at
KU in 1942
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Played in 1948 Orange
Bowl and scored both KU touchdowns
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Holds KU season and
career records for interceptions
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Selected in NFL first
round draft and played one year for Pittsburgh Steelers
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All-state performer for
Wyandotte High School
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