[Rocco Del Sesto]

Looking through newspapers for Al Banks articles, ran across Paul Ray Storie and was intrigued with this guy coming out in his early 30's to start a boxing career. Dug back far enough, found a birth record and some Junior and Senior high articles about him to confirm his DOB.

Career Record: W3(KO 3) / L2(KO 2) / D0

Unknown information has been left blank.

Manager - Henry C. Winston
Trainer - Charles (Chuck) Williams

Birth Certificate found on MyHeritage website places Paul Ray Storie born on March 10, 1943 in Marshall, Harrison, Texas. His father was Teddy Ray STorie and mother, Mary Mildred Yanke.

23 Nov 1958 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - "Junior High News" article about the honory co-captains of the Mighty Mite Football squad featured background info about the young Paul Ray Storie.Mentions he's 15 years old so that confirms the 1943 birth year with his birth day as May 10th and he is the son of Teddie Ray Storie. Lists his height at 5 ft, 11-1/2 inches.

Newspaper accounts 1960-62 Paul Ray Storie playing fullback and tackle for Marshall High School football team and was a Shot Putter in Track and Field along with boxing for the Marshall Boys Club as a heavyweight and in 1962 competed in the Tri-State Silver Gloves Amateur Boxing Tournament.

The rest of the 1960s after high school found Paul Ray going off to college, earning an Associate Business Administration degree from Eastern Oklahoma A&M, playing foot ball for the Eastern A&M Mountaineers.Paul Ray then later attended North Texas State University playing football and boxing during his college years. On May 7th 1965 Paul Ray married and with he and his wife raising a family with a son, Paul Ray II and a daughter, Amy.

27 Sep 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Paul Ray decides to attempt a professional Boxing career as a heavweight! Article mentions his plans to begin with his first bout in about 8 weeks having started training at Rosborough Springs under management of Henry Winston.

15 Oct 1976, Oakland Tribune, CA - Oakland Promoter, Henry C. Winston taking on the management of 6 feet, 232 pound, Marshall, Texan legend, Paul Ray Storie, trying to jump start a boxing career at the age of 33!Henry Winston is quoted in the article that Paul Ray had "something over 200 amateur fights, and won all but two or three." The article mentions Storie has amateur credits including triumphs in Golden Gloves, Silver Gloves and regional AAU tournaments. Did not find other accounts of this execpt for fighting in the Silver Gloves.The article mentions his wife, Geral Elaine with a daughter 12, and a son 10.

28 Oct 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie is working with sparring partner heavyweight Eddie "Boss Man" Jones of Los Angeles preparing for a 6 bout exhibition to take place November 6th with is first professional fight, NOvember 20th.

29 Oct 1976 Longview News-Journal, Longview, Texas - Paul Ray Storie,
5-11, 230 Marshall native to make his professional boxing debut November 20th.Interesting and comedy of sorts observation in this article is that it was noted STorie once held the Mid-South Heavyweight amateur title and was now laying claim to the Texas professional crown without having yet fought his first pro fight! Per Henry Winston since the title was empty as this point in time, "so we claimed it," Winston said. The article notes he his being trained by Chuck Williamson. MOre comedy in tis article when Storie was asked about his intentions on the world heavyweight title eventually, Storie replied, "I want my name on it." Expressing confidence that he can successfully take on any opponant to win it.He said of current champion, Muhammed Ali, "He has never fought anyone who is as strong as I am. I want to fight him more than anything else in the world and I know I can win."!!??

08 Nov 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Paul Ray Storie makes a successful professional debut defeating Eddie "Boss Man" Jones in a 6 round exhibition bout. Storie weighed in at 215 while Jones was at 193.After a lackluster first two rounds by both fighters, Storie started finding the mark with some Jabs and Crosses in the third.He continued to connect, delighting the crowd in the 4th and 5th rounds battering JOnes in the head and mid-section.

NOv 11 and 14 1976 The Marshall News Messenger, Texas pre fight accounts of Storie's first regular fight with Rocky Robinson of Los Angeles California put Robinson's heavyweight professional record at 20-5-5 and 25-5-5. BoxRec only lists a record of 0-3-0 with two KO's before meeting Storie. Joe Louis is announced to be coming in to referee the bout at the Wiley College Gymnasium, which is noted with a seating capacity of 2500.

22 Nov 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - There were 7 bouts in the fight card that featured Paul Ray Storie's professional debut with a 2nd round KO of Rockie Robinson. BoxRec shows Robinson as Rocky.A quick left hook within 30 seconds of the first round from Storie sent Robinson to the canvas. Robinson got up to fight on but then in the second round two lefts sent Robinson into the corner and then Storie connected with a right upper cut that put Robinson out.
An interesting side note in the article, Storie recounted how his last fight came as an amatuer back in 1965.He gave his reason for leaving the ring, "I got married, well, it was the week before, and when I met my wife I had a broken nose, so..". Hmm, broken nose, shape of things to come. Former Welterweight Champion, Curtis Cokes, a native of Dallas, refereed Storie's match.

05 Dec 1976, The Marshall NEws Messenger, Texas - Article writes that Storie's next fight was to be On Dec 7th against Jimmy (King) Flutcher of Los Angeles.On the day on the fight, on Dec 7th, though, the Marshall News reports Storie was now to fight Bruce Scott of Fort Worth in a 10 round bout.

08 Dec 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie scored his second heavyweight bout victory when he knocked out Bruce Scott in 1:42 in the 3rd round. Scott had sent STorie to the deck in the second round, but, Storie came back in the third with a series of punches that sent Scott down for the victory.

09 Dec 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Mark White of Los Angeles was to be Storie's next fight on December 18t at the Wiley College Gymnasium.

19 Dec 1976, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Storie suffers defeat when he sustained a broken nose at 2:42 of the second round at the hands of Al Banks of Dallas, who subsituted for scheduled Storie opponant Mark White.Banks weighed in at 182 while Stories was at 215.A crowd of 1200 per The Times, Shreveport, LA was on hand.

20 Dec 1976, Oakland Tribune, CA - According to an account of the Storie / Banks fight, Storie had Banks on the canvas four or five times before then suffering that broken nose in the 3rd round by "an obvious butt that broke his nose." This article states that under Texas rules, Referee Curtis Cokes had to award Banks a TKO, but under California rules, he would have given Storie a Technical draw since he was ahead when butteed.

08 Jun 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, TExas - Storie knocked out Tom Hargis at 2:53 of the 1st round in his first bout since suffering the broken nose against Al Banks in December. Storie came into the bout at 220, while Hargis weighed 233.

21 Aug 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Discussing Storie's upcoming return "Revenge" match against Al Banks, Storie recounts that what happened in that first fight..."He broke my nose about ten seconds after the opening bell when Banks used a head-butt against me. Then in the third, I was looking at the referee Curtis Cokes after I had knocked Banks down for the 3rd time in the round to see if the fight had been stopped. When I turned around, Banks landed a solid punch on my nose. What that I could not breath and was at the verge of choking.""So I left the ring."

26 Aug 1977, The Marshall News Messenger, Texas - Al Banks wins the second fight against Paul Ray Storie as Storie again suffers a broken nose! Storie appeared to be in control in the third round when a series of rights and lefts earned Banks a standing 10 count. Then the tables turned and in the fiftih round, with 2:20 left Banks landed a quick jab which connected and broke Storie's nose. The Marshall native turned to his cornered and yelled, "It's borken again".The bout was called shortly when the Storie corner threw in the towel. The Times out of Shreveport, LA reported Storie came into the fight well over 235 compared to the 178 for Banks. This account said Storie had his right eye cut open in the first round.

The end of Paul Ray storie's brief fight career. Some later newspaper accounts found Storie involved in different business'. He became quite known locally as a fisherman. Apparently still living.