Jim Ray Smith, a five-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman who blocked for Jim Brown and later became a longtime Cotton Bowl leader, died Oct. 3. He was 94.
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The Cotton Bowl Athletic Association announced his passing, remembering a man whose contributions to football extended well beyond his playing career.
Smith played tackle and guard at Baylor from 1952-54, earning first-team All-America honors in 1953 and second-team recognition the following year.
He spent nine seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys. In Cleveland, he earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1958-62 while helping clear running lanes for Brown.
His career earned him induction into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame and Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
After football, Smith built a career in Dallas real estate, specializing in warehouse leasing and industrial space.
He also spent more than 30 years on the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association's board of directors, serving as its chair from 1984-86 and team selection chair from 1994-96.
"Jim Ray Smith was a tremendous leader, a legendary football player and, most importantly, a great man who gave so much to the Cotton Bowl Classic," association president and CEO Dave Marmion said.
"His impact on our organization spanned over half a century, and his legacy will continue to be felt for generations."
