Billy Ray Barnes
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Billy Ray Barnes (b. 1935 in Landis, North Carolina) was an American professional football player and coach. His parents divorced when he was nine years old, leaving the role of dominant male figurehead to his grandfather. Barnes' sports career began at Landis High School were he was a three sport star (baseball, football and basketball) and led his 1953 football team to undefeated season. In the fall of 1953, Barnes enrolled at Wake Forest University after having his baseball scholarship revoked by North Carolina State University due to his eyesight.
Barnes made the freshman team in 1953 and the varsity team the following year. As a Junior in 1955, Barnes led the team in rushing, punt returns, kickoff returns, pass interceptions and pass receptions, setting the ACC record in pass receptions (31) and yards out of the backfield (349). After the 1955 football season ended, Barnes joined the baseball team at third base where he hit .319, led the league in stolen bases (17) and helped Wake Forest win the 1955 National Baseball Championship.
In 1956, Barnes became the first player in the ACC to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season when he rushed for 1,010 yards. He was the second leading rusher in the nation, an All-American and 1956 ACC Player of the Year.
Barnes was drafted in the second round of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, behind such notables as Paul Hornung, John Brodie, Len Dawson and Jim Brown. He made the Pro Bowl his first three years in the league (1957 - 1959) and was a key member of the backfield during the Eagles' 1960 NFL Championship team. During the title game against the Green Bay Packers, Barnes ran the ball 13 times for 42 yards. He had a nine-yard run and key 13-yard pass reception on the game-winning drive, and threw a block on Packer DE Bill Quinlan that helped Ted Dean to score the winning touchdown.
Following the 1961 season, Barnes was traded to the Washington Redskins for center Jim Schrader. He had two good season with the Redskins, leading the team in rushing in 1962. Barnes was cut by the Redskins before the start of the 1963 season because of an injury he sustained during the pre-season.
In 1965, Barnes returned to the Eagles as a free agent, but was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for a draft choice before the season began. Barnes retired following the 1966 season, and became head coach of the Continental Football League's Charleston Rockets in 1968. He eventually became an assistant coach in the NFL, and served as Norm Van Brocklin's backfield coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
Barnes was inducted into the Wake Forest University Hall of Fame in 1975 and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1979.
