Joe Gray

Joseph Arlo Gray (November 8, 1915 – May 11, 1999) was an American football player. He attended Roosevelt High School in Oregon, where he was a two-time first-team All-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) selection, and enrolled at Oregon State University in 1934. Nicknamed "the Gray Ghost", he played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and was a first-team All-Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) performer and second-team All-American. He was selected in the first round (10th overall) of the 1938 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, but never played professionally.

Early life Gray was born on November 8, 1915, in Aurora, Oregon, and moved to Portland as a youth. He attended Roosevelt High School Portland, winning three varsity letters on the football team and two on the baseball team, being a two-time first-team All-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) selection as a back.

College career In 1934, Gray enrolled at Oregon State University, where he played football and baseball. Up until his freshman year of college, his passing was reported to be poor, but "[coach] Lon Stiner took him in hand, told him to hold his balance and keep on the ground when tossing and now [Gray] can pass anything from a milk bottle to a watermelon," one newspaper commented. By his sophomore year, Gray had developed into a "sensational halfback", being described as "outstanding in every game" while being noted as a triple-threat man who could pass, run and punt. He tied for the scoring lead in the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) and helped the Oregon State Beavers compile a record of 6–4–1. The United Press (UP) named Gray an honorable mention on their 1935 All-Coast football team.

In summing up Gray's sophomore season, the Associated Press (AP) reported that he was "probably the most outstanding all-around sophomore halfback in the coast conference ... His passing arm was the magic wand of the Beaver's aerial circus, and he scintillated at ball carrying. Seldom did he fail to twist loose at least once a game for a kick return of 50 yards or more. His change of pace and ability to remain on his feet carried him farther than many speedier backs." That year, he received the nickname "the Gray Ghost" from an announcer, which he afterwards was commonly known by. A reporter for the Corvallis Gazette-Times said it was "Not a bad name, either, as many opposing tacklers are willing to bet that Joe is just an apparition who can't be brought down."

Gray remained one of the best players in the conference in 1937, being among their leading scorers again as the Beavers ultimately compiled a record of 4–6. United Press (UP) noted that he was "the coast's best passer and ... a grand open-field runner."

Gray continued to be a top player as a senior in 1937. He was considered one of the greatest backs produced in the Northwest in years and was praised as the best Oregon State runner and passer in history up to that point. The Oakland Post Enquirer stated that he "personally acts as 75 percent of the Oregon State offense" and called him as being "in a class by himself". Although the Beavers only compiled a record of 3–3–3, Gray was named first-team All-Coast and was selected a second-team All-American. He played at the Chicago College All-Star Game and at the East–West Shrine Bowl.

Gray was inducted into the Oregon State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame in 2020.