Donegal - McCumhaill Park, Ballybofey.Cavan - Kingspan Breffni Park (below), Cavan.īreffni is the county name, Kingspan are the ground sponsors.Monaghan - St Tiernach's Park, Clones.The first president of Ireland, Dr Douglas Hyde, was born in Roscommon. One of the architects of the Easter Rising was Leitrim-born. Named after a former Archbishop of Tuam from the area. Willie Walsh was a well known GAA and republican activist in the city. Tom Semple was a Thurles Sarsfields and Tipperary player, referee and administrator in the early part of the last decade. Dick Fitzgerald is one of the few footballers to have a county ground named after him. Kerry - Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.Padraig O Caoimh was the GAA's general secretary from 1929 to 1964 and was reared in Cork. Clare - The other ground named after Michael Cusack.Named after local man James Nowlan, the longest-serving president of the GAA. One of two grounds named after founding father Michael Cusack.Ī bishop from the area with a fond interest in Gaelic games. One of two grounds devoted to Padraig Pearse. Kildare - St Conleth's Park, Newbridge.When he started getting inducted into these hall of fames, we were just awed by all of his accomplishments.The Tailteann Games originated just a few miles away. “It was amazing what you’d pick up from people because he was so humble.”īroeker finished, “we did start asking a lot of questions when we were early teens and especially when we were in high school and of course (Ramsey’s answers) were vague and we had to dig it out of him. “Or people on the street: ‘Are you Ray Ramsey’s daughter?’ And you’d say yes and they would tell you stories,” Dickerman said. Her sister, Cheri Dickerman, finished her thoughts. (They heard most’ of it from) the Journal-Register or …” “Over the years, hearing more and more things and we never really heard it from him. “My dad was very quiet about all his accomplishments and we didn’t really hear about it until we were much older,” Broeker said. Sometimes they were in the dark about all of Ramsey’s achievements. While he was a legendary sports star, he was mostly just dad to his daughters. Ramsey also ran a girls' summer track program which included his daughters and Kim Schofield.Įventually, Ramsey was inducted into the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame, the Bradley University Hall of Fame, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well as Springfield’s. He stayed in athletics as the Lions’ head track and field coach from 1958-59 to 1970-71 and was an assistant coach for the football and basketball teams. Later, he taught industrial arts at Lanphier. Ramsey returned to Bradley to coach track and field and football for four years before he was hired in 1958 to teach mathematics and science at Edison Junior High. “I'm so proud that his daughter, Christina Broeker, brought his name to our attention and having Ray Ramsey Track and Field at Memorial Stadium is going to be a great namesake for him.”ġ00-point kids: A nostalgic look back at the team that christened Lober-Nika Gymnasium Coming back home His daughters and their children were all outstanding athletes. “Not too many play in the NFL and the NBA,” Springfield Public Schools superintendent Jennifer Gill said at Monday’s board meeting. Ramsey also played two seasons in the NBA with the Tri-City Blackhawks and the Baltimore Bullets. He played for the Chicago Cardinals in the NFL from 1950-53 and overall had a 10-year pro career, including time in the Canadian Football League where he earned All-Pro honors. He turned pro in football and basketball. Following his senior season, Ramsey helped the College All-Stars to a 16-0 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in 1947. On the track, he had 27 straight first-place finishes in five different events. He set three school records for the track team, scored nearly 1,000 points in basketball and was the Bradley football team halfback.Īs a captain of the basketball team, the squad went 25-7. Navy but he participated in all three sports for the Peoria school as well and won 13 varsity letters and earned All-America honors - or the equivalent - in football, basketball and track and field. The only thing that halted Ramsey’s spectacular collegiate career at Bradley University was four years of service in the U.S. He was part of the 24-inductee class of the inaugural Springfield Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. Ramsey, a 1940 Lanphier High School graduate, starred in football, basketball and track and field. It is on the same block as Robin Roberts Stadium at Lanphier Park, named for the Springfield native who starred in basketball at Michigan State before his hall of fame career as a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.
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