{"id":1359,"date":"2022-07-06T19:44:52","date_gmt":"2022-07-06T19:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/?post_type=inductee&p=1359"},"modified":"2022-07-06T19:44:52","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T19:44:52","slug":"ray-evans","status":"publish","type":"inductee","link":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/inductee\/ray-evans\/","title":{"rendered":"Ray Evans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Known for his leadership, his commitment to detail, and his strive for perfection, 2007 Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee Ray Evans was considered a formidable football opponent during the late 1950\u2019s at Branford High School.<\/p>\n

As a running back, defensive halfback, and punter, Ray was a three-year varsity letter winner.\u00a0 In his junior year, tonight\u2019s inductee played for fellow Branford Sports Hall of Fame inductee Dominic Cote (1992) and was a teammate of 1991 inductee Jack Cirie and Tom Murray (1992).\u00a0 On an undefeated team, which won the Class \u201cM\u201d State Championship and Housatonic League titles during the 1958 academic year, Ray scored three touchdowns.\u00a0 Branford outscored its opponents, 184-30, allowing Derby, Lyman Hall, Southington, Shelton, and East Haven six points each.\u00a0 Ray was part of the defensive unit which posted four shutouts, versus North Haven (25-0), against Seymour (14-0), 13-0 to Cheshire and facing Amity, a 33-0 landslide win.<\/p>\n

The following year, Branford continued its winning ways as the Hornets extended its winning streak to 17 games before the Yellow Jackets of East Haven spoiled a perfect season (12-9 loss).\u00a0 In 1959, Branford defeated Derby (12-6), Shelton (14-6), Lyman Hall (22-6), North Haven (24-0), Cheshire (20-18), Seymour (20-14), West Haven (20-8), and Amity (28-6).\u00a0 Ray led the Hornets in yards rushing, pass receptions, all purpose yards, scoring, interceptions, punting yards, and return yards.\u00a0 Tonight\u2019s inductee was one of the top four in the state in four offensive categories and was presented the \u201cOutstanding Player\u201d trophy by his teammates.\u00a0 Ray also played baseball as an outfielder for the high school baseball team.<\/p>\n

Following high school, tonight\u2019s inductee attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point and played tailback and defensive halfback on the football team.\u00a0 He was one of two players who lettered as a freshman.\u00a0 He led the team in interceptions and punting.<\/p>\n

Ray was a Lieutenant\/Second Officer in the United States Navy\/US Merchant Marine and received an Honorable Discharge during the Vietnam War.<\/p>\n

Working as a Business Consultant, Ray resides in Longwood, Florida with his wife of 33 years, Jackie. He is the father to daughter, Jennifer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1360,"template":"","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/inductee\/1359"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/inductee"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/inductee"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/branfordsportshalloffame.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}