Bob Carey (American football)

Robert Winfield Carey was an American football end in the National Football League. He was a first round pick (13th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1952 NFL Draft from Michigan State University. He played with the Rams from 1952 to 1956. He then played one season with the Chicago Bears in 1958.

Bob and his twin brother Bill were members of the legendary 1945 Charlevoix, Michigan football team that went undefeated and unscored upon. Fraternal twins, Bob stood 6' 5" and weighed 220 pounds while the smaller Bill measured in at 6'1" and 190pounds. The ’45 team was coached by Ray Kipke, the man for whom Charlevoix’s football stadium is now named, and the inspiration behind the change in spelling of the school’s nickname from Raiders to Rayders. The ’58 Charlevoix squad repeated with an undefeated/unscored upon season coached by Bob's older brother (Don Carey, a member of the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame who, along with his brothers, had an outstanding athletic career at Charlevoix.) No other high school team in Michigan playing full seasons have ever matched the twin accomplishments of Charlevoix's '45 and '58 teams.

The 1945 Rayders finished 6–0, with shutouts of Grayling, 25–0; Mancelona, 25–0; Boyne City, 33–0; East Jordan, 24–0; Harbor Springs, 64–0; and Pellston, 58–0.

The ’58 edition played eight games, and blanked ’em all.

Though Charlevoix said good-bye to a truly special group, a once-in-a-lifetime group, after that ’58 season, the ’59 Rayders made their own indelible mark.

That team also went 8–0, won the conference championship, and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the UPI Class C poll. That team was dominant in its own right, outscoring its opponents 260–19.

The ’45 unbeaten/unscored upon team came during a truly golden era of football at Charlevoix that included the ’58 team. In the 15 years from 1945–59, Charlevoix won 11 Northern Michigan Class C Conference championships, including six consecutive, and the teams combined for a sensational 92–11–4 record.

The ’45 team was composed of Dick Joliffe, Jerry Ypma, Frank Martin, Bill Carey, Bud Fox, Jim Roberts, Bill Joliffe, Don Zietler, Bernie Zietler, Bill Poole, Irving Manville, Nelson Sweitzer, Bob Crain, Dick Hardy, Jack Mol, Bernie Ward Jr., Don Brown, Em Howe, Lyle King, Bob Carey, Vince Olach, Jack Roberts, Cliff Lagerman, Bob Shanahan, Warren Shadko, Dick Donaldson, Arnie Loper, Des Milligan, Jack Kline and Pat Martin. The manager was a kid named Charles Fairbanks, who went on to play football at Michigan State University and coached at the University of Oklahoma, Colorado University and in the NFL with the New England Patriots.

Bob went on to star at Michigan State University as an end and kicker. He was a member of the 1951 College Football All-America Team.

Carey earned a total of nine varsity athletic letters at Michigan State, three each in football, basketball and track. In his era, freshman were not eligible for varsity competition. As Captain of the undefeated Spartan 1951 football team, he earned consensus first team All-America honors at end. His third place finish in the shot put at the 1951 NCAA Track & Field Championships had previously placed him on National Collegiate Track Coaches All-American team. Carey was also a three year starter for the Michigan State basketball team. Spartan football coach and College Football Hall of Fame member Biggie Munn called Carey, "the greatest all-around athlete I've ever seen or hope to see." As a senior at State, he won the Chester L. Brewer Award, awarded annually to a graduating senior for "distinguished performance in athletics and scholarship, and for possessing a high degree of character, personality, competitive spirit and other leadership qualities which forecast a successful future."