A native of Mississippi, Ray was raised, after his father's death when he was not quite 2 years old, by his mother and his older brothers and sisters. An all-sports star and honor student at Tupelo High School, and at Sunflower Junior College in Moorhead, the Great Depression found him working for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Youth Administration. The outbreak of WWII led Ray to enlist in the US Navy, and sign up for flight training. After his initial training in New Orleans, he went on to advanced flight school at Pensacola, FL, where, after completion of his training, he was assigned as a flight instructor. In 1942, he married his college sweetheart, Ruth Blizzard, and she joined him in Pensacola. In 1944, he was shipped out to the South Pacific, where he flew the Douglas Dauntless Scout Bomber. Upon returning home from the war, he and Ruth moved to Jackson where he worked for the Veterans Administration. In 1957 the family moved to Birmingham, where he took a position with the Social Security Administration. Upon his retirement, he devoted himself to the care of Ruth, while finding the opportunity to rekindle his love of sports. He took up a tennis racket and played almost daily until shortly before his death. Three times, with a different partner each time, he won the Alabama State Doubles Championship in the over 70 age group.
A native of Mississippi, Ray was raised, after his father's death when he was not quite 2 years old, by his mother and his older brothers and sisters. An all-sports star and honor student at Tupelo High School, and at Sunflower Junior College in Moorhead, the Great Depression found him working for the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Youth Administration. The outbreak of WWII led Ray to enlist in the US Navy, and sign up for flight training. After his initial training in New Orleans, he went on to advanced flight school at Pensacola, FL, where, after completion of his training, he was assigned as a flight instructor. In 1942, he married his college sweetheart, Ruth Blizzard, and she joined him in Pensacola. In 1944, he was shipped out to the South Pacific, where he flew the Douglas Dauntless Scout Bomber. Upon returning home from the war, he and Ruth moved to Jackson where he worked for the Veterans Administration. In 1957 the family moved to Birmingham, where he took a position with the Social Security Administration. Upon his retirement, he devoted himself to the care of Ruth, while finding the opportunity to rekindle his love of sports. He took up a tennis racket and played almost daily until shortly before his death. Three times, with a different partner each time, he won the Alabama State Doubles Championship in the over 70 age group.
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