The mid-70’s seems to be the cutoff for anybody who wants to roam the sidelines at professional football games in silly costumes. Wilford `Crazy Ray’ Jones had been the unofficial mascot in the stands for Dallas in a trademark wild west getup with trademark white cowboy hat. Jones, 76, was never paid by the Cowboys for his services (shame on you Jerry Jones) but he was given a special parking spot and an all-access pass to every game at Texas Stadium. The diehard fan will now be buried in one of his traditional uniforms.
But Jones won’t be the only superfan watching his team from the big seat in the sky when this NFL season kicks off in the fall. Dennis Sym, a.k.a. ‘Dolfan Denny,’ died at the age of 72 on Friday after whipping Fins fans into a frenzy for over 34 years. Unfortunately, kidney failure and cancer would take the life of a man who had so bravely withstood every late season Miami meltdown for over three decades. But a disappointing Nick Saban stint proved to more than his old, proud body could take.
Links:
[DallasNews.com]: Wilford “Crazy Ray” Jones: 1931-2007
[MiamiHerald.com]: `Dolfan Denny,’ unofficial mascot