Wikipedia

John Ray Godfrey

John Ray Godfrey (September 21, 1944 – November 17, 2024) was an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the Abilene Christian Wildcats and was selected as the Southland Conference Player of the Year in 1968. Godfrey's number 14 was the first jersey number retired by the Wildcats. He did not play professionally and instead worked as a high school coach and administrator.

John Ray Godfrey
Godfrey, c. 1968
Personal information
Born(1944-09-21)September 21, 1944
Aspermont, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 17, 2024(2024-11-17) (aged 80)
Hamlin, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Career information
High schoolAspermont (Aspermont, Texas)
CollegeAbilene Christian (1964–1968)
NBA draft1968: 14th round, 178th overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
PositionShooting guard
Coaching career1974–1993
Career history
As coach:
1974–1991Iraan HS (girls')
1991–1993Hawley HS (girls')
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Basketball career

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Godfrey with the Wildcats during the 1967–68 season

Godfrey was born in Aspermont, Texas, on September 21, 1944, to parents Olen Byron and Ina Mae (née McNutt) Godfrey.[1] He lived on a farm where he began playing basketball as a child by using a goal erected on his family's garage.[2]

Godfrey attended Aspermont High School in Aspermont.[3][4] He played on the basketball team where he was coached by his brother-in-law, William Teel.[2] Godfrey also participated in track.[2]

Godfrey played for the Abilene Christian Wildcats from 1964 to 1968 as a shooting guard.[5] Godfrey was selected as a member of the second-team Division II All-American team in 1967 and the third-team in 1968.[6] He was awarded as the Southland Player of the Year in 1968 and was a three-time member of the All-Southland Conference team.[4] Godfrey scored 1,467 points during his Wildcats career and ranks 11th in program history.[7]

Godfrey was selected as the 178th overall pick of the 1968 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.[8] He was also selected by the Houston Mavericks in the first round of the 1968 American Basketball Association (ABA) draft.[9][10] On July 3, 1968, Godfrey signed with the Mavericks,[11] but he returned home to become a teacher.[12] He was invited to a tryout with the United States basketball team for the 1968 Summer Olympics.[13]

Godfrey was inducted into the Abilene Christian University Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.[4][14] His number 14 was retired by the Wildcats men's basketball team in 2018 as the first jersey number retirement by the program.[7]

Later life

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Godfrey worked as a high school coach and administrator for 35 years.[5]

Godfrey was the head coach of the girls' basketball team at Iraan High School for 17 years and compiled a record of 364–185.[15] In 1991, he was appointed as head coach of the girls' team at Hawley High School.[15] Godfrey was named as principal of Hawley Elementary School in 1993 and then promoted to superintendent in 1995.[16] He left the position in 2002 to become an elementary principal in the Aspermont Independent School District.[17] Godfrey was promoted to district superintendent in 2003.[18]

Personal life and death

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Godfrey married his high school classmate, Barbara Smith, in 1962.[1] They had two children.[1]

Godfrey died in Hamlin, Texas, on November 17, 2024, at the age of 80.[19] He was predeceased by his daughter.[1]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1964–65 Abilene Christian 19 – – .635 – .813 1.7 – – – 9.2
1965–66 Abilene Christian 28 – – .496 – .697 3.4 – – – 12.1
1966–67 Abilene Christian 22 – – .463 – .797 4.5 – – – 17.5
1967–68 Abilene Christian 24 – – .515 – .685 4.7 – – – 23.8
Career 93 – – .506 – .733 3.6 – – – 15.8

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "John Ray Godfrey". Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Norman, James (January 14, 1962). "Basket by John Godfrey, Is His Best Description". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 39. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Estelline's Great Star Is Named All-State". The Childress Index. March 6, 1963. p. 6. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Three Wildcats earn spots on Southland Conference's all-1960s men's team". Abilene Christian University Athletics. February 20, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Hadfield, Ron (May 19, 2011). "Regional sports hall of fame adds two Wildcats". ACU Today. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  6. ^ "NABC Division II All-America Teams". NABC. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "ACU retires jersey number of Wildcat All-America". Abilene Christian University Athletics. February 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Lakers Draft History". NBA.com. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  9. ^ "Godfrey Is 1st Round Houston Pick". Abilene Reporter-News. May 6, 1968. p. 4. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "1968 ABA Draft". The Draft Review. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  11. ^ "Houston Inks Two Cagers". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. July 4, 1968. p. 29. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Roberts, Bill (April 19, 1972). "Martens Elated". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 7. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Boone, Grant (February 21, 2018). "Full Circle: Iconic domed home of the Wildcats turns 50". ACU Today. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Two Wildcats voted into Hall". Abilene Christian University Athletics. January 13, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Godfrey named Hawley girls basketball coach". Abilene Reporter-News. May 16, 1991. p. 28. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Hawley: Superintendent named". Abilene Reporter-News. April 19, 1995. p. 2. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Hawley names school chief". Abilene Reporter-News. May 29, 2002. p. 10. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "New superintendent". Abilene Reporter-News. August 22, 2003. p. 60. Retrieved November 18, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Rosado, Carlos (17 November 2024). "ACU basketball legend John Ray Godfrey dies at 80 years old". Big Country Homepage. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
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