Ray George, Member of ‘Thundering Herd’ at USC, Dies at 78
Former USC lineman and assistant coach Ray George, a member of Coach Howard Jones’ “Thundering Herd” teams of 1937-39, died Thursday in Costa Mesa at 78 of complications from a stroke.
George was the second USC player drafted into the NFL, going to Detroit in the eighth round in 1939. He played for the Lions that season and for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1940 before returning to California to coach at Porterville High in 1941.
After service in World War II, he became USC’s line coach before becoming head coach at Texas A&M; for three seasons, 1951-53. His successor with the Aggies was Bear Bryant.
He rejoined the Trojans in 1958 for seven seasons as an assistant (the last five under John McKay), and returned in 1971 as assistant athletic director, also serving for three seasons as an assistant coach during that time.
His funeral will be next Friday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach.
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