Ray Lemek Explained

Position:Guard
Tackle
Number:70, 72
Birth Date:28 June 1934
Birth Place:Sioux City, Iowa, U.S.
Death Place:Readfield, Maine, U.S.
Draftyear:1956
Draftround:19
Draftpick:227
College:Notre Dame
Teams:
Statlabel1:Games played
Statvalue1:117
Statlabel2:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue2:2
Highlights:
Pfr:L/LemeRa00

Raymond Edward Lemek (June 28, 1934 – September 17, 2005) was an American football guard and tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Lemek played high school football for Heelan in Sioux City, Iowa, before going on to play college football at the University of Notre Dame where he was the captain of the 1955 team.[1] He was drafted by the Redskins as an offensive lineman in the nineteenth round, 10th pick of the 1956 NFL draft, but did not play that year due to a leg injury.[2] He played for the Redskins 1957–1961.[3] For his performance in the 1960 NFL season, he was selected for the 1961 Pro Bowl. In 1962, he was traded Steelers, and played with them until he retired from football in 1966, having last played in the 1965 NFL season. He later became a salesman for 3M. He moved to Cleveland in 1976. When he retired in 1997, he had been employed as the vice president of sales for Northern Steel Transport. Afterwards, he and his wife moved to Readfield, Maine. In June 2005, it was reported that Lemek was in poor health due to suffering two strokes,[4] and Lemek died on September 17 of that year. He was buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Notes and References

  1. News: Peery . Richard M. . Ray Lemek, NFL, Notre Dame Star . Cleveland Plain Dealer . September 21, 2005.
  2. News: Lemek to Play With Redskins . The South Bend Tribune . May 14, 1957.
  3. Web site: Ray Lemek Stats . Pro Football Reference.
  4. News: Allspach . Steven . Lemek Battles the Ravages of Two Strokes . The Sioux City Journal . June 30, 2005.