Garrard "Buster" Ramsey, a 1978 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from William & Mary, died of pneumonia Sept. 16 at a retirement center in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was 87 years old.

A high school star in Knoxville, Tenn., Ramsey played guard at William and Mary. In his four years 1939-1942 the school had a record of 29-7- 3. The 1942 team won the Southern Conference championship, beating out Duke and North Carolina for the title. That team beat Oklahoma 14-7, tied Harvard 7-7, and lost only to North Carolina Preflight School.

Known in college as "a titanic blocker on offense, a tiger on defense," Ramsey made all- conference twice and in 1942 was chosen All-America by the Associated Press. He was the first All-America named from William and Mary.

Ramsey was in the Navy in World War II, and he played professionally with the Chicago Cardinals 1946- 1951. Then came 13 years as a pro coach, including a term as head coach of the Buffalo Bills 1960-1961. He retired to the foothills of the Smokey Mountains in East Tennessee, where he raised cattle and served on the Blount County School Board and the county Commission.

He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of 1974, and William & Mary inducted him into the Tribe's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980.

NFF