Doug Williams
I met Mr. Ray many years ago when I was recruited by my friend and his daughter Tasha to earn a few dollars with a project at Mr. Ray's nursery. I have told Tasha over the years how intimidating I thought he was at the time. But it wasn't intimidation brought on by fear. The intimidation was because I had just met a man that set the bar for the type of man all young men should strive to become and the bar was set intimidatingly high.
I was blessed with a wonderful father of my own who was a great example for me. But, through the years if a young man is lucky, he will be blessed with other great examples to help guide him in his life. Mr. Ray was one of those men for me. He was a great measuring stick for the most important things in life such as family, pride, compassion, hard work. I don't share blood with Mr. Ray and I'm no longer a young man, but there is no doubt my life, my family and my character have a bit of Mr. Ray's DNA and that is a true blessing and I only hope to be able to carry that forward.