RAYMOND BERRY

[MrMustang1965]

Asked about his greatest thrills in football, this year’s “I Love Paris” honoree cites the 1958 NFL championship game and the 1949 district championship game between Paris and Gainesville.

Raymond Emmett Berry didn’t play much in the 13-7 win against Gainesville in 1949. Coached by his father, Berry saw little high school football action until his senior year in 1950.

But eight years later, Berry made football history with 12 catches for 178 yards in a Baltimore Colts sudden death 23-17 victory against the New York Giants in 1958. His post season record would stand for 23 years.

A story of determination, dedication and desire is to be revealed when Paris Education Foundation honors the Hall of Fame player and professional football coach at the “I Love Paris” gala set for 6 p.m. March 10 at Love Civic Center.

As the son followed in his father’s footsteps on the field, he also follows in those footsteps in receiving Paris Education Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The late Raymond M. Berry received the distinction in 1992.

“We are excited about honoring this Paris High School graduate who has earned so much fame and respect both on and off the football field,” event chairperson Barbara Kohls said.

“It is obviously a very high honor,” the former New England Patriot head coach said late last year upon learning of the award. “I appreciate the people there thinking about me, and I look forward to coming back to Paris for that occasion.”

Berry said it has been 50-plus years since he played football for his father and graduated from Paris High School.

“We were a very close class, and we still get together about every five years,” Berry said of the many friends he has in his hometown. “I hope they don’t reveal everything they know about me.”

Berry played college football at Southern Methodist University and then played professionally with the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967. He was All-NFL for three years, elected to play in six Pro Bowl games and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

He coached in the NFL for 25 years, five as the head coach of the New England Patriots where he was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 1985. He led his team to Super Bowl XX in 1986.

During his 13 years with the Colts, Berry was a member of two world championship teams and with Johnny Unitas formed one of the NFL’s top quarterback-receiver combos.

He fumbled only once in 13 years and when he retired had caught more passes than any other player in pro football history.

Berry now lives in Colorado with his wife, Sally Berry. He is associated with HBW, a California-based insurance and financial services company, and is a nationally known motivational speaker.

The couple has three children and six grandchildren.

http://web.theparisnews.com/story.lasso?wcd=18795

[Dement-ed]

One of the all-time greats, to be sure!

[EastStang]

Until the likes of Art Monk and Jerry Rice hit the NFL, Berry was the standard by which all wide receivers were judged. A truly class act even if he did play for the Colts.

[Rayburn]

While dad was a teammate of Berry's at SMU, A friend of ours played ball with him at Schreiner Institute. The coach was Chena Gilstrap, I believe.

[MrMustang1965]

While dad was a teammate of Berry's at SMU, A friend of ours played ball with him at Schreiner Institute. The coach was Chena Gilstrap, I believe.

Schreiner Institute...now Schreiner College in Kerrville, Texas?

[Rayburn]

Yes, it used to be a junior college.

[MrMustang1965]

It's now a four-year, liberal arts college.