Background
Smith, Jim Ray was born on February 27, 1932 in West Columbia, Texas, United States. Son of William G. and Laura A. (Brown) Smith.
Smith, Jim Ray was born on February 27, 1932 in West Columbia, Texas, United States. Son of William G. and Laura A. (Brown) Smith.
Smith attended West Columbia High School where he practiced four sports.
He played college football for Baylor University. He accepted a scholarship from Baylor University, where he was a two-way tackle and a three-year starter. In 1968, he was inducted into the Baylor University Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 1987, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 2008, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Cleveland Browns
Smith was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round (64th overall) of the 1954 NFL Draft with a future draft pick, which allowed the team to draft him before his college eligibility was over.
Because of military service in the United States. Army (23 months), his rookie season began in November 1956, when he was tried at defensive education Although he was one of the fastest players on the team, the next year he was moved to the offense and became one of Paul Brown"s messenger offensive guards, splitting time with Herschel Forester.
In 1958, he became a full-time starter and one of the best guards in the NFL, while blocking for future hall of famers running backs Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell.
Although he retired after the 1961 season to devote himself full-time to his real state business, the team was able to convince him to return. He retired again after the 1962 season, but the Dallas Cowboys convinced him to play in his home state and traded offensive tackle Monte Clark in exchange for his rights. In 2005, he was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends.
Dallas Cowboys
In 1963, he started seven games at left guard until suffering a knee injury during a kickoff return.
The next year he only played in four games (one start) after suffering a second knee injury. Although at times he played at the level of his previous years, his two seasons with the Cowboys were marred by two serious knee injuries, two broken hands and two concussions.
He retired after the 1964 season.
Member Cleveland Browns Football. Member Dallas Equalization Board, 1972-1973. Vice chairman realtors section committee gifts, trusts and bequests Wadley Institutes Molecular Medicine, Dallas, since 1973.
Member Dallas Board Realtors, Texas, National associations realtors, Ex-student Association Baylor University Hankamer School Business (president 1973), Baylor B Association, Baylor Letterman"s Association (president), Baylor Alumni Association, Baylor Bear.
Club: Bent Tree Country.
Married Paula M. Braden, April 2, 1955. Children– James Ray, Paul Braden, Ripple Alicia.