M Club Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1997
Elmer Ray, a native of Buchanan, Tennessee, came to the University of Memphis after a stellar prep career at Southside High School in Memphis. He played on the first Tiger football team following World War II, working as a tailback and safety. A four year letterman, Ray scored a touchdown in Memphis’ 43-16 win over the University of Tampa in 1949 and came back as a senior with two touchdowns in a 70-6 victory over Tampa which still stands as a school record for points in a game. One week later he scored in the Tigers’ win over Washington University. In an encore performance, Ray was named the Player of the Week for his play in Memphis’ 35-0 win over Union University. He also led the team to perhaps their greatest win of that period, a 21-14 victory over Kansas State. After college, Ray served two years in the Air Force during the Korean War and returned to Memphis after the war to begin a long career as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Memphis City School System. Ray worked at Whitehaven and Hillcrest High Schools.
