Baby Ray

Buford Garfield "Baby" Ray (September 30, 1914 – January 21, 1986) was an American professional football player who played 11 seasons in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers from 1938 to 1948.

Early life Ray was born in Una, Tennessee, an unincorporated town east of Nashville. In his final season with the Commodores, Ray was named a co-captain.

Ray also competed in the shot put while at Vanderbilt.

Professional career Ray was not selected in the 1938 NFL draft, and became the subject of a free agent bidding war between George Halas of the Chicago Bears and Curly Lambeau of the Packers. Ray signed with Green Bay, playing the entirety of his 11-year NFL career with the Packers.

Early in his career, Ray shed upwards of 25 pounds from his college playing weight,

Ray appeared in the 1940 NFL All-Star Game. He was named to the United Press International All-Pro team four times, once to the First-team (1941) and three times to the Second-team (1939, 1943 and 1944).

Ray was a member of the Packers' 1939 and 1944 NFL championship teams. He later became the university's first full-time football recruiter and also served as the head of the physical education department.

Personal life Ray had three children with his wife, Jane Burns Ray. They made their home in Nashville.