Mark McCray

Quarterback (1983-84)

Mark McCray was born in the historic Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, and attended Rockhurst High School where he was a three-year varsity football letterman.  In his four years at Rockhurst, the teams in which Mark was the starting quarterback lost only three games.  They were the Missouri State Champions his junior season and were the state runner-up his senior year.  His senior season garnered him All-Metro, All-District, and All-State honors.

When Mark arrived in Coffeyville, he was one of three freshmen quarterbacks to join a Red Ravens team that was returning only ten sophomores.  After sharing the quarterback duties the first half of his freshman season, he eventually won the job and went on to start 19 consecutive games.  In addition to quarterback, he was the team's punter his freshman year, the place-kicker his sophomore year, and was also chosen by his teammates as a captain his sophomore year.

Mark led the team to bowl victories in the Jayhawk Bowl both seasons, earning Most Valuable Player and Outstanding Offensive Player honors, respectively.  The first bowl victory avenged an earlier loss to Dodge City completing an 11-1 season which ultimately led to the Red Ravens being named the 1983 National Champions.  He finished his career second all-time in touchdown passes with 24, was first team All-Conference, and was selected as a member of the J.C. Gridwire All-American team.

In Mark's two seasons at Coffeyville, the Red Ravens had a combined record of 21-3, and he was voted the Most Valuable Player both years, becoming the only player in Raven history to win the award twice.  In 1984, Mark was awarded a football scholarship to Kansas State University, but disappointedly left the program before ever playing a game.  He decided it was time to leave football.

Mark still lives in Brookside and has never married.  In 1987, he began working in the pre-press industry and is currently working for Graphic Services of Kansas City.  He also had an exciting three-year stint as a casino craps dealer in Missouri.  Mark spends much of his time volunteering for Visitation Catholic Church.  He is a sacristan for Sunday masses, teaches in the school of religion, and spends countless hours involved with their community theatre group, Theatre at VIS, both on and off stage.  Mark remains an avid football fan, attending as many Rockhurst games as he can, and he is a Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder.