Augustana University Athletics

The late Ray Griffith was an outstanding Augustana athlete in both football and track before he entered the U.S. armed services in 1942. A career Air Force officer, Griffith died in 1963 in a plane crash as he was flying a mission in New Mexico.

Griffith participated in football four years and was a three year letterwinner in the 1939 and 1942 seasons as the Vikings went 2706 overall and 16-1 in conference play. In 1942, the Vikings' first year in the NCC, the team was undeated and went 4-0 in the conference to win the championship.

Griffith lettered in track for only three year due to his joining the armed services following the 1942 football season. He competed in the low and high hurdles, the long jump, the high jump and the shot put. At the State Open meet in 1941, Griffith set meet records in the high hurdles with a time of :16.1 and in the low hurdles with a time of :26.6. In 1942, the Vikings track team won the North Central meet as Griffith ran a :15.6 to win the high hurdles and finished third in the low hurdles.

Ray also distinguished himself as a member of America's armed services. During WW II he earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious combat flying. He also flew during the Korean conflict and in 1951 received the Air Force Commendation Ribbon. Griffith was a lieutenant colonel at the time of his death.