Dick Christy

Dick Christy (November 24, 1935 – August 7, 1966) is an American and former collegiate and professional football player. At St. James High School, Christy was twice named 1st Team All-Scholastic by the Philadelphia Bulletin (1952 & 1953). He also led St James to the Philadelphia City Football Championship in 1953. The 5'11", 191 lb. Christy was a star halfback at North Carolina State University from 1955 to 1957, leading them to the 1957 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in his senior year. With the league title on the line in the season's final game, Dick Christy scored all 29 points in a 29-26 win over the University of South Carolina to clinch the championship for his Wolfpack.  Christy scored the dramatic winning points on a field goal on the last play of the game.  At the conclusion of the 1957 season, Christy was 1st team All-ACC and was a Consensus 1st team All-American.  He was also honored as the 1957 ACC Player of the Year in football and as the 1957-58 ACC Athlete of the Year for all sports.  His jersey number ("40") was eventually retired by NC State.  He was an American Football League All-Star for the New York Titans in 1962. Christy died in an auto accident in 1966. Christy was named to the ACC Silver Anniversary football team in 1978. The Dick Christy Award was created by NC State to honor the football team's most valuable players in games versus the University of South Carolina.