Raymond L. Ramsey

Raymond L. Ramsey, 88, of Springfield, died at 6:48 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at St. John's Hospital. Raymond was born July 18, 1921 in Springfield, the son of Robert and Minnie Barrington Ramsey. He then married Elsie Kreiger on June 10, 1955 in Shawneetown, IL. She preceded him in death. Ray was a 1940 graduate of Lanphier High School. He went on to Bradley University where he was a valued member of the football, basketball and track teams. Ray won 13 varsity letters while scoring 994 points in basketball, setting three school records in track and becoming a Little All-America halfback in football. His college career was split in half by his service in the U.S. Navy during WWII. When he returned to Bradley he captained the basketball team in a 25-7 season and also beat then world-record holder, Earl Dugger, in the 120-yard high hurdles at the Boston AAU meet. Ray went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL. He was on the 1947 World Championship Chicago Cardinals Team and played three years in the Canadian Football League for the Hamilton Tiger Cats where he was an All-Pro Flanker. Ray also played two seasons in the NBA for the Baltimore Bullets. Ray received his Master's degree from Sangamon State University and taught at Lanphier High School for 29 years where he also coached basketball, football and track. He organized and coached the Springfield Striders Girls Track Team for many years. Ray was inducted into the Bradley University Sports Hall of Fame, the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and was one of the original 24 inductees into the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. He was a medal winner in the Illinois Senior Olympics and later officiated for them. Ray and Elsie also ran a family business, owning and operating Ra-El Concessions for the Springfield Recreation Department. He was also also preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Norman and Bob Ramsey; and two sisters, Catherine Brokaw and Neva Potter. He is survived by two sons from his first marriage to Corinne Mercedes Moore, Raymond C. Ramsey of Las Vegas, NV and James Mark Ramsey of Orange County, CA. Ray and Elsie had five children including one son, Kelly Ramsey of Springfield; four daughters, Cathy Donovan of Springfield, Chris (husband, David) Broeker of Wildwood, MO and Cheri Dickerman of Springfield and Lisa Potter of Palm Beach, FL; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends from 4:00 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2009 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Funeral ceremonies will be at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and the Department of Defense. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Illinois Chapter, Springfield Office, 6 Drawbridge Rd., Ste. 4, Springfield, IL 62704.