About Bob Bray
Lived 1919 – 2006 (aged 86). Bob Bray was an American water polo player.
Rutledge Robert "Bob" Bray (September 27, 1919 – August 26, 2006) was an American water polo player for Fullerton Junior College and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, who competed in the 1948 London Olympics. He later had a Real Estate career in Pebble Beach, California.
Bray was born in Los Angeles on September 27, 1919, and attended Los Angeles High School, playing water polo from 1932–36. During his high school years, his team won the Southern California High School Championship in 1937–38. He attended and played Water Polo for Fullerton Junior College from 1937–1939, an outstanding program coached by Hall of Fame Coach and U.S. Olympic Team Coach James R. Smith. As a high scoring left forward for Fullerton, he threw in six goals against Los Angeles Junior College, leading the team to a 9–4 victory in November 1937. With strong participation by Bray, Fullerton Jr. College won the Southern California Jr. College Championships in 1938–39. Bray later transferred to UCLA.
Bray completed his college education at UCLA, but played water polo for the Los Angeles Athletic Club during that period. He later swam for the San Francisco Olympic Club. Continuing to excel after leaving Fullerton Junior College, in January 17, 1947, Bray scored seven goals to lead the Los Angeles Athletic Club to a 20–13 victory over Fullerton Jr. College, winning the Southern California American Athletic Union Championship.
1948 London Olympics Competing at the men's tournament men's tournament at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, the U.S. team placed ninth. Italy won the gold medal, Hungary the silver, and the team from the Netherlands won the bronze, in a period when European teams particularly Eastern European teams usually dominated water polo.
Playing with the Los Angeles Athletic Club in 1948, 1947, 1941, Bray was part of national championship teams. He later played San Francisco's Olympic Club.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bob Bray's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bob Bray?
American water polo player
When was Bob Bray born?
Bob Bray was born on 27 September 1919 in Los Angeles.
When did Bob Bray die?
Bob Bray died on 26 August 2006 in Long Beach.
What was Bob Bray's occupation?
Bob Bray was a water polo player.
What nationality was Bob Bray?
Bob Bray was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bob Bray. https://biography.guide/bob-bray/
MLA: "Bob Bray." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bob-bray/.
Chicago: "Bob Bray." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bob-bray/.
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