Ken Gray (American football)

Kenneth Don Gray (March 10, 1936 – November 25, 2017) was an offensive guard who played 13 seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals/St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Oilers. Born in San Saba, Texas, Gray attended and played football for four seasons at Howard Payne University. His first NFL contract, in 1958, paid him $6,000. In those days the league was composed of 12 teams, split into two divisions. After retiring as a player, earning six All-Pro awards, he served for three years as head coach at his high school alma mater, Llano High and offensive line coach for the 1977 AFC Champion Denver Bronco team that earned its way to Super Bowl XII, to play against the Dallas Cowboys.^[1] In 2016, he was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame along with former University of Texas head football coach Fred Akers, former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen and former Major League Baseball pitcher Andy Pettitte. He earned a spot on the St. Louis Cardinals’ All-Time Team and the NFL All-1960s Team. A Christian, Gray first and foremost considered himself blessed with his lovely and gracious wife, Shirley, who has stood by him through all the years of risking injury in high school, college and league play, and the unique challenges of his coaching years to the present. They met and were wed back in their high school days at Llano High School. Their union produced two sons, Shane and Boyd and a grandson, Garret.^[2]

Gray died in Llano, Texas where he lived on November 25, 2017, at the age of 81.^[3]

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