- Blenda Gay
NFL player
DateOfBirth= November 22, 1950
Birthplace=Fayetteville, North Carolina
DateOfDeath=death date and age|1976|12|23|1950|11|20
College=Fayetteville State University
Position=Defensive end
number=68
DraftedYear=1973
DraftedRound=Supplemental,Oakland Raiders
ProBowls=
Career Highlights=N
years=1974
1975-1976
teams=San Diego Chargers Philadelphia Eagles Blenda Glen Gay (November 22, 1950 in Fayetteville,
North Carolina – December 23, 1976 in Camden,New Jersey ) is a formerdefensive end in theNational Football League . He played three seasons in the NFL for theSan Diego Chargers andPhiladelphia Eagles and is notable for his 1976 murder by his wife Roxanne.Biography
Blenda Gay attended
H. B. Sugg High School inFarmville, North Carolina . After high school he attendedFayetteville State University in his home town of Fayetteville. There he started on the football team winning all-CIAA andDivision II All-American. [cite book |last=Whitted |first=Fred |title=Fayetteville, North Carolina |origyear=2000|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=qzYTWytLEkgC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=%22blenda+gay%22&source=web&ots=6VT55ufzJc&sig=YxMyEKXpI_66_4MLCSLIq2nPCZo&output=html|format=Google Books |accessdate=2007-11-28|publisher= Arcadia Publishing |isbn= 0738505935|pages= 64]Gay was drafted in the 1973 NFL supplemental draft by the
Oakland Raiders but was cut in training camp. [ [http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=2520&type=team Oakland Raiders Draft History, NFL.com] ] He was picked up in 1974 by the San Diego Chargers and saw action in two games.In 1975, Gay was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles where he became a regular fixture on the
defensive line for two seasons. Gay played in every regular season game for the Eagles in both 1975 and 1976. [ [http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/pdf/Y_B_Y_RESULTS_STATS_06.pdf Philadelphia Eagles All-Time Stats, Philadelphia Eagles.com] ]Murder
In December, 1976, Roxanne Gay cut her husband's throat as he slept, killing him. She was charged with the murder by the
Camden County, New Jersey district attorney .Roxanne claimed that the attack on her husband was purely self-defense and alleged that her husband was extremely violent and abusive. Camden police indicated that she had made over 20 calls to the police in three and a half years. The case became a
cause celebre for the feminist movement due to thedomestic violence aspect.Gloria Steinem andMs. magazine helped raise money for her defense. A panel of psychiatrists found that Blenda Gay had not abused his wife. Ultimately, Roxanne Gay was determined to beschizophrenic and confined to a state mental health facility. All charges were dropped. [cite book |last=Jones |first=Ann |title=Women Who Kill |origyear=1996|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=OZvLUbjRIF8C&pg=RA1-PA287&lpg=RA1-PA287&dq=%22blenda+gay%22&source=web&ots=bT5rn-3tHB&sig=G0Mho6oiBtcPyb3DSrEKf9enZ1k&output=html |format=Google Books |accessdate=2007-11-28 |publisher= Beacon Press|isbn= 080706775X|pages= 287]References
External links
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/blendagay/profile?id=GAY083058 NFL.com Player Page]
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