Ray Evans (halfback)


Raymond Richard Evans was an American professional football halfback. He was an All-American in football and a twice All-American in basketball at the University of Kansas and is considered possibly the greatest overall athlete ever to attend KU. In addition to his multi-sport prowess in college, Evans would go on to play professional football and basketball, and was even offered a contract to play baseball for the New York Yankees.

College career

Football

Evans played both halfback on offense and defensive back on defense at KU. During his 1947 All-American season, Evans led the Jayhawks to a Big Six Conference championship and an appearance in the Orange Bowl. He also holds the distinction as the only NCAA football player ever to lead the nation in passing on offense and interceptions on defense in the same season. In fact, Evans is still the Jayhawks single-season and career leader in interceptions.

Basketball

Evans was also a standout guard on the basketball team. He was an All-American member of the 1943 conference championship team.

Legacy

Evans is the only KU athlete to have his basketball jersey no. 15 and
football number 42 retired. His college athletic career was interrupted by three years of service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1964.

Professional career

Evans was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1944 NFL Draft but was still serving the military at the time and chose to return to school rather than play then. Evans was later drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1947 BAA Draft but chose to play in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Business career

Evans was the president of the Traders National Bank of Kansas City and was part of a group that owned the Kansas City Kings of the National Basketball Association. Evans died in his home on April 24, 1999, from natural causes.