June 1 (UPI) -- Raymond Berry, a Hall of Fame pass catcher for the Baltimore Colts for 13 years and who later coached the New England Patriots, has died, his family announced Monday.
Berry died at his home while surrounded by family May 25 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was 93. Berry's family, who said he "died peacefully," did not disclose his cause of death.
"People said Raymond Berry was not blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to refine his skills and master his craft," Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said.
"The chemistry he developed with quarterback Johnny Unitas through hours of route-running and thousands of repetitions in practice created a dynamic tandem that thought with one mind on game days.
"Together they helped the Colts win consecutive titles in the late 1950s, including the classic 1958 NFL Championship Game that served as a springboard for professional football becoming this country's most popular sport. On top of that, there was no finer gentleman -- a person who remained humble and grounded when others sought to thrust stardom upon him."
