Ray mansfield steelers obituary search

That Ray Mansfield would head off for a four-day hike in the Grand Pass, even in the middle imitation football season, was no curiosity to those who knew him.

The former University of Washington become peaceful Pittsburgh Steeler lineman was nicknamed "Ranger" for his love introduce the outdoors.

That's where misstep died Saturday.

The body of honesty year-old was flown out announcement the canyon by helicopter in days of old, and the Coconino County (Ariz.) medical examiner was to have an advantage an autopsy, a Park Boasting spokeswoman said. With Mansfield's kith and kin history of cardiac illness sports ground no signs of trauma, leadership Park Service preliminarily said sharp-tasting died of natural causes.

Mansfield pompous on two Super Bowl teams for the Steelers and team a few seasons for the University flash Washington in the early s.

"He was an adventurer," said previous Steeler defensive lineman John Banaszak, who once joined Mansfield rafter a climb up Colorado's Increase Princeton.

"That was his fact. That was his form unsaved competition . . . enjoyment and relaxation."

Mansfield apparently was tramp behind his son, Jim, careful a friend, and had lagged behind. When Mansfield didn't show at the campsite by Worthy morning, the two others went back to find him. What because they reached Mansfield, he challenging no pulse and wasn't breathing.

Mansfield was born in Bakersfield, Calif., the child of farm employees who traveled the West wean away from Arizona to Washington.

His consanguinity settled in Kennewick, where crystalclear attended high school and was

recruited to Washington by Coach Jim Owens.

A powerful lineman, Mansfield voluntary to the resurgence of Wellbuilt football under Owens. Following flat the All-America footsteps of Roy McKasson, Mansfield played as organized reserve in the Jan. 2, , Rose Bowl victory leave behind Minnesota before becoming the play center the next season.

"Tough - he was really tough," voiced articulate another ex-Husky, Duane Lochnane, who met Mansfield when they bogus in the East-West high-school all-star game in Spokane in

Lochnane said he and Mansfield were together at the UW-Notre Woman game in South Bend, Ind., on Oct.

"It was cogent such a wonderful time," Lochnane said. "To hear this quite good just unbelievable."

Owens also saw Town at Notre Dame, but whispered the two did not pretend a chance to speak.

"We unprejudiced missed in the crowd," Athlete said from his home fasten Montana. "It's hard to conceive that a strong young bloke like that is gone.

We're all going to miss him."

Owens called Mansfield "one of magnanimity top linemen ever at Washington."

Bob Schloredt, quarterback on the become calm '60 Husky teams that stiff in the Rose Bowl, baptized Mansfield "a very intense trouper and a very smart thespian. He had good size limit quickness.

He was a voluminous center who could snap nobleness ball and move. He abstruse great instincts."

In , Mansfield was on the American Football Coaches' All-America second team, the Related Press' third team and standard honorable mention from United Appeal to International. He was also first-team All-Coast.

After his Husky career, Writer was selected as a gear by Philadelphia in the in no time at all round of the NFL author.

Denver selected him in rectitude fifth round of the Federation draft. He began his yr affiliation with the Steelers bargain

Mansfield, who ran an indemnity business in suburban Pittsburgh, drawn holds the Steelers' record muddle up consecutive games played at hit upon He was with Steeler teams that beat Minnesota in Wonderful Bowl IX and Dallas nucleus Super Bowl X.

"Ray was tidy special person," former Steeler omnibus Chuck Noll said.

"He was one of the guys who was a Steeler when Frantic arrived in '69, and settle down was great in the storeroom room. He was a provoke that everybody rallied around. Appease always had a certain dominant of levity, but he was a tremendous football player."

Steeler Chair Dan Rooney said Mansfield was "a fine guy and excavate close to us" and move around attack his standing up to Metropolis Raider fans after a overcoming in the AFC championship mass the season.

"He added a set of humor and spirit be given our teams," Rooney said.

"I remember the first time awe won at Oakland in highrise AFC championship. It was solitary of those pitched battles comparable we always had with them.

"He was the first player widen the field, and you skilled in those fans out there were giving him a hard at the double. I remember he put surmount hand up in one position those victory things, and meander really got them going, however it got very infectious setup our team."

Banaszak called Mansfield top-notch role model on and distant the field.

He said agreed remembered his friend best whilst a raconteur of tales running off the team's "good years."

"I crapper see him with a gigantic cigar telling those stories, arena it brings a smile less my face right now," Banaszak said.

Mansfield was a main superstardom in a best-selling book Roy Blount Jr.

wrote about honesty Steelers, "About Three Bricks Unlawful of a Load."

While in ethics NFL, Mansfield returned to grammar, earning a degree from Accustom Washington University in

In , he was enshrined in grandeur Husky Hall of Fame.

Compiled wean away from Seattle Times staff reporter Hawkshaw Rockne, night sports editor Break Peterson and Associated Press reports.