UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and the Penn State men's soccer and baseball programs mourn the passing of All-American and National Champion Ray Buss. Buss passed away from natural causes Wednesday, Jan. 13 at his home in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania at the age of 92.
Buss was a two-time national champion with the Nittany Lions men's soccer program in 1950 and 1951 under legendary head coach Bill Jeffrey. He earned All-America honors in 1950.
While at Penn State, Buss also earned three varsity letters as a baseball student-athlete. He played semi-professional for six years in the Boston Red Sox system during summer breaks from teaching.
Buss went on to serve a 40-year career teaching high school. He was also a high school soccer coach, compiling a 28-year career record of 512-99-48, primarily at Fleetwood High School. His teams won two state soccer championships, nine district championships and 14 county titles. Buss coached 20 all-state and nine All-America players, culminating in his selection as 1980 NSCAA Coach of the Year.
Buss was inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Becki McCullough (Wayne), and Bonni Whitman (J.W.); sons, Barry (Kara) and Brent (Katie); and sisters, Delphine Hamershock (Bill Wesner) and Janie Saine (Carl, deceased).
There will be a celebration of life at a later date once travel and group gatherings are possible.
