Ray Evans, a four-time All-Big Six Conference selection in the 1940s, was on hand in Allen Fieldhouse in 1997 to see his jersey retired in front of 16,300 appreciative fans.

A native of Kansas City, Kan., Evans is one of the great two-sport athletes in NCAA history. He holds the distinctive honor of being named All-American in both football and basketball and was KU's first ever football All-American.

Evans was equally decorated in both sports. He is a member of the Orange Bowl and College Football Halls of Fame. As a halfback, Evans scored both KU touchdowns in the 1948 Orange Bowl. He held several early KU records for passing and total offense and played one season in the pro ranks with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After playing two seasons of football and basketball in 1942 and 1943, Evans' career was interrupted by World War II. He joined the Air Force after the 1943 season and returned to Kansas for the 1946 and 1947 football and basketball seasons.

Evans played basketball under Forrest C. “Phog” Allen and was a four-time All-Big Six Conference selection. He led the Jayhawks to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1942 and a 22-6 record and conference title in 1943 before joining the Air Force.

In 1946, Evans returned to lead the Jayhawks to a 19-2 record, a Big Six title and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Ray Evans trophy was established in 1968 to honor a member of the current Jayhawk football team whose all-around excellence both on and off the field best exemplify the traits of the former KU star.

Voted into the Kansas All Sports Hall of Fame in 1971, Evans graduated from KU's school of business in 1948