Raymond Francis Krouse (March 21, 1927 – April 9, 1966) was an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was a

defensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line (D ...

in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) for the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983, when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to Indianapolis. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It w ...

and

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...

. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Maryland Terrapins The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 19 men's and women's college sports in the United States, varsity intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate ...

Early life

Krouse attended Western High School. He accepted a football scholarship from the

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD i ...

. During the

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

era, he served in the United States Navy reserves and was discharged as a Seaman 2nd Class. In 1992, he was posthumously inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame. The Ray Krouse Award is given to the team's most valuable player.

Professional career

New York Giants

Krouse was selected by the

in the second round (25th overall) of the 1951 NFL draft. The 1951 Giants defense he was part of, allowed the fewest total yards and rushing yards in the NFL for that season. In 1952, he had his best professional season. On April 26, 1956, he was traded to the

in exchange for defensive tackle Dick Modzelewski.

Detroit Lions

In 1957, he contributed to the

winning the NFL Championship. On July 17, 1958, he was traded to the

in exchange for a third round draft choice (#36- Ron Luciano).

Baltimore Colts

Krouse was a part of the 1958 NFL Championship Game against the

, famously known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played". The 1958 Colts defense he was part of, allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL for that season. He contributed to the Colts winning back to back NFL titles in 1958 and 1959 against his old team, the Giants.

Dallas Cowboys

Krouse was selected by the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...

in the 1960 NFL expansion draft. On June 23, he was traded to the

in exchange for center Frank Kuchta.

Washington Redskins

Krouse played one season for the

Personal life

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'' on April 10, 1966, said, "Raymond Francis Krouse, one of the finest athletes ever to come out of Washington, died yesterday at Georgetown University Hospital of a

liver The liver is a major metabolic organ (anatomy), organ exclusively found in vertebrates, which performs many essential biological Function (biology), functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of var ...

ailment." He left behind a wife, Majorie; four daughters (Karen, 14, Kimberly, 8, Carolyn, 5, and Kathy, 4 ges at the time of his burial; his mother, Mrs. Josephine Krouse; a sister, Mrs. Margaret Haney; and a brother, William (Sully) Krouse. He was buried on April 13, 1966, at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

nearby his son, David Edward, who died in 1963, after living two days.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krouse, Ray 1927 births 1966 deaths Players of American football from Washington, D.C. American football defensive linemen Maryland Terrapins football players New York Giants players Detroit Lions players Baltimore Colts players Washington Redskins players Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Navy reservists United States Navy sailors