Bobby Grayson (December 8, 1914 – September 22, 1981) was part of Jefferson High School's dominance in Portland during the '20s and '30s, then was part of three Rose Bowl teams at Stanford.
Grayson was a three-sport powerhouse at Jefferson. He began playing varsity sports in his 1928, freshman year. As a quarterback, halfback and defensive back, Grayson helped the Democrats improve from 3-5-1 to 10-0-0 in four seasons. The 1931 team is famed for having outscored opponents 287-6, including 169-0 in seven games against Portland Interscholastic League teams. Grayson scored 117 points in those seven games.
Grayson also starred on the Jefferson track and field team, winning state titles in the 100-yard dash and 220-yard low hurdles in both 1931 and ’32.
Stanford’s legendary football coach Glenn “Pop” Warner then recruited Grayson to Stanford. Grayson became one of the "Vow Boys", the young players who were determined never to lose to USC following a humbling defeat in 1932, Bobby's freshman year. Stanford defeated USC the next three years, with Grayson playing a role each time. He scored the only touchdown in the 1933 matchup.
Bobby starred on both offense, as a quarterback and fullback, and defense as a safety. Stanford won the Pacific Coast Conference and advanced to the Rose Bowl three times, winning in 1936.
Grayson earned a spot on the All-America team as a quarterback in 1934, and fullback in 1935. In ’34, he set a school record with four interceptions during a game against Washington. In his three seasons on the varsity team, Grayson ran for 1,547 yards on 405 carries.
Bobby was selected by Pittsburgh in the NFL draft but chose to go into business. He worked for companies in Oregon and Washington and served as the head of the U.S. Savings Bond Division for Oregon for eight years until retiring in 1980.
During World War II, Grayson served as commanding officer of the USS Loyalty, a minesweeper.
Bobby Grayson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. He is also a member of the PIL Hall of Fame.