TOPIC: A Football Legacy Has Passed Away

Source: WFAA.com

Wilford "Crazy Ray" Jones, who entertained Dallas Cowboys fans for decades in his chaps and white boots as the team's unofficial mascot, died on Saturday. Neighbors told WFAA that Crazy Ray suffered a heart attack about two weeks ago. He had heart failure and had been in hospice care since then. He died at home at 11:30 a.m. this morning.
Jones had entertained fans first at the Cotton Bowl, then at the Texas Stadium in Irving. Getting people excited about the Cowboys was Jones's mission, from their conception in 1960 until the final home game this year.
Jones attended every single home game. He has a section in the fans' room of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Ohio. He was not paid a salary by the team but he was given a season ticket, provided with parking and expenses by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "Ray was the most dedicated, entertaining and passionate of Cowboys fan," Jones said. "He touched thousands of lives and generations of football fans. He will remain an important part of this team's heritage and family for as long as fans go to Cowboy games and feel his spirit," he added.
"I wanted to make people laugh, keep them happy because happiness is the best thing in the world," he [Crazy Ray] told WFAA in an interview two years ago.

The Sope-Bocks: I have been a Dallas Cowboys fan since 1972 -- almost my entire life. As such, I've seen Crazy Ray on the sidelines for nearly three decades. He was always smiling, always pumping up the crowds, always being THE ultimate fan for Dallas. Wilford Ray Jones will be sorely missed when the 2007-2008 NFL football season starts. His spirit will live on -- and thank the Lord for Crazy Ray's awesomely optimistic spirit.