The Augusta Sports Council Board of Directors and Ray Guy Award Committee are saddened to announce the passing of legendary punter and friend, Ray Guy. Guy passed on November 3, 2022 surrounded by family in Hattiesburg, Mississippi where he resides.  

“Ray was a proud Thomson native, friend, husband, father, grandfather and a humble NFL legend,” said Augusta Sports Council CEO Michelle Pippin. “Our organization will cherish the many memories we’ve had over the years with Ray and the Ray Guy Award.  On behalf of the Augusta Sports Council and Ray Guy Award Committee, we extend our condolences to the Guy family.” 

Ray Guy did more than pave a career, he pioneered one. Guy’s impact on the game of football, specifically on the importance of the punter, is incredible and will continue to influence the generations of players to come. The Augusta Sports Council is proud to be the home of the Ray Guy Award, which is given to the best collegiate punter in the Football Bowl Subdivision.  

Drafted out of Thomson High School to play professional baseball, the Georgia native chose instead to continue a football path at the University of Southern Mississippi where his accomplishments are legendary. In his first collegiate game in 1970, Guy booted a 77 yard punt against Southwest Louisiana, the second longest in school history. 

In 1972, Ray Guy was a unanimous choice for All-American. Guy is also recognized as one of USM's best baseball pitchers and pitched one of only four no hitters in school history. He was elected into the USM Sports Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1978. In 1973, Guy became the first pure punter selected in the first round of the NFL draft. No one in the history of football has ever punted a ball as far or as accurately or as high as Guy. His punts would often hang in the air for so long, that the NFL invented a new punt statistic known as hang time. In 14 years with the Raider's organization, Guy was an integral part of propelling them to three Super Bowl titles. He also appeared in seven pro bowls, was named to the 75th anniversary All-Time Team, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team, the NFL 100 All-Time Team, the Walter Camp All-Time All-America Team and the 1970's All-Decade Team. 

Ray Guy has been inducted into both the Mississippi and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. To culminate a monumental career, on August 2, 2014, Guy became the first pure punter ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, further solidifying his moniker as the greatest punter ever.  

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