Thomson native and NFL Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy died Wednesday night after a battle with a lengthy illness according to the NFL.
Guy attended Thomson High School, where he led them to the Georgia Class A Football State Championships in 1967 and 1968.
Guy was drafted out of Thomson to play baseball but decided to continue his football career at the University of Southern Mississippi.
He was a unanimous choice for All-American in 1972 and went on to get drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the 23rd pick in the first round in 1973. He was the first pure punter to ever get drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.
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We are saddened to hear of the passing of Pro Football Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. pic.twitter.com/DPqnFKbyzj
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2022
Guy played his entire 14-year career with the Raiders and was selected to six Pro Bowl teams from 1973-1978. He also is a three-time NFL Super Bowl Champion and a six-time First-team Al1-pro and was named to the 75th anniversary All-Time Team, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team and the 1970’s All-Decade Team.
Guy was inducted into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and was the first ever punter to do so. He has also been inducted to the Mississippi and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Today, the Augusta Sports Council honors the nation’s most outstanding collegiate punter with the Ray Guy Award.
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
