Ray Neal
Encyclopedia
Raymond Robert "Gaumey" Neal (1897–1977) was an American football coach and player. He served as the head coach for the DePauw Tigers at DePauw University
for sixteen seasons. Prior to that, he played four seasons in the National Football League
with the Akron Pros
and the Hammond Pros
.
. He attended Mellott High School and Wingate High School. Neal attended Washington & Jefferson College
, where he played in the 1922 Rose Bowl
, before transferring to Wabash College
where he served as the football team captain. He graduated from Wabash in 1920.
Neal played four seasons in the National Football League
. In 1922
, he played for the Akron Pros
, where he saw action in ten games, including six starts
. From 1924 to 1926, Neal played for the Hammond Pros
. He started five games each in 1924 and 1925, and in the latter, recovered one fumble
that he returned for a touchdown
. He started in two games in 1926.
In 1930, Neal was hired as the head football coach at DePauw University
. He coached the 1933 team to an undefeated, untied, and unscored upon season. The Tigers outscored their opponents, 136–0, and finished the season with a 7–0 record. In 1946, he resigned as coach to become DePauw's athletic director and Department of Physical Education chairman. He retired from that position in 1954 and became the postmaster
of Greencastle, Indiana
. Neal died in 1977. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
in 1977, the Wabash College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984, and the DePauw Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach in 1986.
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
for sixteen seasons. Prior to that, he played four seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Akron Pros
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
and the Hammond Pros
Hammond Pros
The Hammond Pros from Hammond, Indiana played in the National Football League from 1920 to 1926 as a traveling team.-History:The Pros were established by Paul Parduhn and Dr. Alva Young who was a boxing promoter, owner of a racing stable and a doctor and trainer for a semi-pro football team...
.
Biography
Neal was born on November 1, 1897 in Mellott, IndianaMellott, Indiana
Mellott is a town in Richland Township, Fountain County, Indiana, United States. The population was 197 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mellott is located at ....
. He attended Mellott High School and Wingate High School. Neal attended Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
, where he played in the 1922 Rose Bowl
1922 Rose Bowl
The 1922 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 2, 1922, between Washington & Jefferson College and the University of California, Berkeley...
, before transferring to Wabash College
Wabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
where he served as the football team captain. He graduated from Wabash in 1920.
Neal played four seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. In 1922
1922 Akron Pros season
The 1922 Akron Pros season was their third in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 8-3-1, winning only three games. They finished tenth in the league.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, he played for the Akron Pros
Akron Pros
The Akron Pros were a professional football team located played in Akron, Ohio from 1908–1926. The team originated in 1908 as a semi-pro team named the Akron Indians, however name was changed to the Pros in 1920 as the team set out to become a charter member of the American Professional...
, where he saw action in ten games, including six starts
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
. From 1924 to 1926, Neal played for the Hammond Pros
Hammond Pros
The Hammond Pros from Hammond, Indiana played in the National Football League from 1920 to 1926 as a traveling team.-History:The Pros were established by Paul Parduhn and Dr. Alva Young who was a boxing promoter, owner of a racing stable and a doctor and trainer for a semi-pro football team...
. He started five games each in 1924 and 1925, and in the latter, recovered one fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
that he returned for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
. He started in two games in 1926.
In 1930, Neal was hired as the head football coach at DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
. He coached the 1933 team to an undefeated, untied, and unscored upon season. The Tigers outscored their opponents, 136–0, and finished the season with a 7–0 record. In 1946, he resigned as coach to become DePauw's athletic director and Department of Physical Education chairman. He retired from that position in 1954 and became the postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle, Indiana
Greencastle is a city in Greencastle Township, Putnam County, Indiana, United States, and the county seat of Putnam County. It was founded in 1821 by Scots-Irish American Ephraim Dukes on a land grant. He named the settlement for his hometown of Greencastle, Pennsylvania...
. Neal died in 1977. He was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame
Indiana Football Hall of Fame
The Indiana Football Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in Richmond, Indiana. It honors persons associated with high school, college and professional American football in Indiana. It also works to establish scholarships and endowments to promote football in the state of Indiana...
in 1977, the Wabash College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984, and the DePauw Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach in 1986.