Raye Renfro
Raye Renfro (born 1940 in Houston, Texas) is a former American football and track and field athlete from Columbia Basin College and Jefferson High School.
Early years
Born in Houston, his family moved to Portland, Oregon where he attended Jefferson High School, starring as a two-way football player and track and field athlete.
As a junior (1957) and senior (1958), he contributed to his team achieving a 23-0 record, including two Class A-1 football state championships. The Democrats 1958 team is regarded as one of the greatest in Oregon prep history, in that season he broke the Portland Interscholastic League record with 24 touchdowns and was part of a backfield that included him at fullback, quarterback Terry Baker (Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon State University), his younger brother Mel Renfro at halfback (future Pro Football Hall of Famer) and halfback Mickey Hergert (one of the leading ground gainers in the nation at Lewis & Clark College).
In track and field he was the state record holder in the broad jump and in the 120-yard high hurdles. He also was the state champion in the 100-yard dash and in the 880-yard relay team.
College career
Because of academic problems, he enrolled at Columbia Basin College.
Renfro for his time had an excellent size/speed ratio, being 6–3 feet, around 210 pounds and could run the 100 yard in 9.6 seconds. He was the starter at fullback, sharing the running duties with halfback Jim Wickwire. In his first year the football team went 8-1, losing only to Wenatchee Valley College, which was coached at the time by future Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Coryell. He didn't last in college, choosing to drop out of school.
Portland Thunderbirds (semi-pro football)
In 1966 he signed with the Portland Thunderbirds of the Pacific Coast League, where he was used as a two-way player.[1]
Personal life
Raye married Virginia Smith on October 21, 1972 in Portland, OR adopting her three sons Edward, Brent, and Scott. After years of trying for a child of their own, on October 17, 1975 they welcomed a daughter Candeese Rae Renfro. Soon after she was born, Raye succumbed to his battle with Pancreatitis and Diabetes. He died on June 7, 1978, he was 38 years old.[2]