Commissioners remember Ray during Monday session

By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com

PALO PINTO – Quietly, people bowed their heads in a somber Palo Pinto County Courtroom for a moment of silence Monday for Ted Lee Ray, County Commissioner Precinct 1 (2005-2008).

Ray died on March 14 after battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which affects an individual’s upper and lower motor neurons.

“Ted Ray’s passing leaves an empty chair at our table. He will be greatly missed,” stated County Judge Mike Smiddy who read a resolution offering sympathy and honoring Ray.

The resolution stated that Ray, who was born and lived in Palo Pinto County his entire life, “served the county with great distinction.”

“Whereas Commissioner Ray’s courageous fight against ALS reminds us of how one man’s ‘never give up’ attitude toward life, even in the face of extreme adversity, can positively affect so many people,” said Smiddy as he read the resolution.

In addition to New York Yankee’s Hall of Fame slugger Lou Gehrig, ALS cut short the lives of individuals like Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter, actor David Niven, musician Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter and former U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace.

In a recent interview for the KTVT-TV (Channel 11) program “Texans with Character,” Ray said he first discovered something was wrong during the last week of July 2006, while he was welding on a fence for a county bridge project.

Despite being diagnosis with ALS, Ray kept working and seemed to embrace new technologies to help him fulfill his administrative duties.

“When I remember Ted, words come to mind like friend, mentor, worker, public servant, brother. If I had to choose one word to describe Ted, it would be loyalty. How Ted’s many, many friends stood with him even through the recent hard times tells me that Ted stood with them when they needed him. That is the definition of loyalty. Ted knew how to be a friend and his friends loved him for it,” Smiddy said.

In addition to being a friend, Ray’s wife Beth called him a “workaholic,” and managing a diverse range of businesses seems to indicate this.

The resolution cites that he served active duty in the U.S. Army and six years in the reserves, ran cattle ranches in Palo Pinto and Throckmorton counties for 16 years and owned and operated several businesses located in Palo Pinto County.

His businesses included owning a trucking company, two wrecking yards and a heavy equipment company. Additionally, he did his own precinct repairs on heavy equipment.

Beth Ray said in February that together they owned and operated several other businesses, including fulfilling multi-million dollar contracts for the federal government and a defensive driving course, DriveSafeUSA.com.

Reading Ray’s own words – submitted to the Index in mid-February prior to the primary elections – seems to reveal his caring commitment to the county he called “home.” On more than one occasion, Ray pointed out “listening” as a crucial skill and attribute for the role of commissioner.

“I feel the most important duty as a county commissioner is handling the budget in a responsible, business-like manner for the best interest of the people. This also includes listening and responding to the people of the county,” he said.

Among the things Ray pointed out that he accomplished during his tenure were: making sure heavy equipment was safe and operable; saving taxpayers money through purchases; working whenever the work had to be done – even “nights and weekends” – and using his own vehicle and fuel; voting to fund the city/county narcotics unit, a courthouse annex in Mineral Wells and new staff, vehicles and a Web site for the sheriff’s department; and setting aside money for an animal shelter.

“I will treasure the two-plus years that it was my privilege to serve with Ted on the Commissioners Court. But knowing Ted, he would not want us linger too long at his passing. He would want us to get back to work doing the jobs we have to do and now we will,” added Smiddy, who said he will decide on someone to fill the Precinct 1 commissioner vacancy in the next couple of weeks.

Commissioners approved the resolution, which includes presenting Beth Ray with a sealed copy “as an expression of our appreciation for the dedicated service of Commissioner Ted Lee Ray on behalf of the people of Palo Pinto County.”

“If John Wayne was with us, he’d say Ted Ray has ‘true grit,’” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Ed Laney.

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