Representative William G. Ray View All Years

HONORABLE WILLIAM G. RAY

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorative of the life, character and public services of the late William G. Ray, of Poweshiek county, beg leave to submit the following report:

William G. Ray was born at Hope, Michigan, February, 19, 1857, and died in Grinnell, Iowa, January 30, 1936. Burial was in Hazelwood Cemetery, Grinnell. His parents were Orin L. and Harriet Shaw Ray. Owing to his mother’s death he lived at the home of his maternal grandparents at Madrid, St. Lawrence county, New York, from the time he was three years old until he was seventeen, when he came to friends in Grinnell. He attended the Grinnell Academy and matriculated in Iowa College (later Grinnell College), from which he was graduated in 1882, teaching country schools occasionally in the meantime. From 1882 to 1887 he was principal of Guthrie County High School at Panora, and from 1887 to 1889 was superintendent of Grinnell public schools. During these years he did much teaching in various teachers’ institutes in his section of the state. On retiring as superintendent of Grinnell schools, he was made secretary of the Grinnell School Board which he held until failing health overtook him.

In 1889 he became associated as junior partner with Drs. S. A. Cravath in the publication of the Grinnell Herald. This work he continued until the time of his death, having as partners during that forty-six years, besides Dr. Cravath, Ronald McDonald, G. W. Cowden, Austin P. Haines, and in recent years, A. L. Frisbie.

In 1895 he was elected representative and served in the Twenty-sixth, the Twenty-sixth Extra (Code, Revision), and the Twenty-seventh General Assemblies. He was chairman of the Normal Schools Committee in the Twenty-sixth, and of the Private Corporations Committee in the Twenty-seventh.

He was chairman of the Republican County Central Committee of his county for several years. He served as postmaster at Grinnell from January 18, 1907, until January 31, 1911. He served Grinnell as mayor from 1925 to 1931. During those years he took much interest in the Iowa League of Municipalities, and served that organization one year as its president. In 1921 he with A. L. Frisbie and David Sutherland bought the Brooklyn Chronicle, which at the time of his death was owned by Ray & Frisbie. In 1923 the same parties bought the Montezuma Republican, which is now owned and edited by Mr. Sutherland. Mr. Ray served as president of the Iowa Press Association for the year 1929-30. In 1933 the association gave him the further honor of designating him as one of the master editors of the state. He was made a trustee of Grinnell College in 1926, was an active member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias Orders and of the Congregational church.

He gave unstintingly of his talents and strength to the welfare of the people of his town, county and state.

William G. Ray came to Grinnell when entering the early years of his youth. Here he made his home, while he took a leading part in all activities, civic, literary and spiritual.

As a business man he was known for his integrity and fidelity to every trust in which he was placed in charge. No one came to him for aid without receiving a generous portion from the hand of Mr. Ray.

He was widely known throughout Poweshiek county. Men of all parties and all creeds held him in highest esteem and the oldest residents now living in Poweshiek county take pleasure in recalling the many splendid traits of character he evinced through his long and creditable career as a leading citizen in his county.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-seventh General Assembly, That in the passing of the Honorable William G. Ray, the state has lost a valuable and honored citizen, and the House would tender by this resolution, its sincere sympathy to the surviving members of the family in their sorrow, and

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be instructed to send an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

J. W. FRIZZELL,

J. P. GALLAGHER,

J. E. CRAVEN,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted, April 19, 1937.