Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum exists to tell — and preserve — the stories of these Mississippi’s greatest athletes and coaches, who are some of the world’s greatest athletes and coaches. Question: What other state can boast the leading scorer and receiver in NFL history (Jerry Rice), the leading passer in NFL history (Brett Favre), the second leading rusher (Walter Payton) and the patriarch of the first family of football (Archie Manning)?

Ray Poole

Born: April 15, 1921

Died: April 2, 2008

Hometown: Gloster, MS

Year of Induction: 1968

College Career

Ole Miss (1941-1942, 1946-1947)

• All-SEC, All-South end (’46)

• Blue-Gray Game (’46)

• College All-Star Game (’47)

North Carolina, Marine V-12 Program (1943)

• All-American, All-South

Pro Baseball Career

• Signed as pitcher by Chicago Cubs (’47)

Pro Football Career

New York Giants (1947-1952)

• All-Pro defensive end (’50)

Montreal, Canadian Football League (1953-1954)

• All-CFL (’53-’54)

• Finished second in CFL scoring both seasons

Football Coaching Career

• Ole Miss (1955-1974)

• Northwest Junior College (1979-1983)

• Northwest Junior College, athletic director (1984-1985)

Did You Know?

From the 1940s to the mid-’60s, the Giants could have formed their own Ole Miss alumni chapter. Ray Poole was one of no less than 20 former Rebels who wore the Giants’ version of red and blue during those years.