Earl Rufus Ray was born on 16. Apr. 1908 at Lyra, Palo Pinto County, Texas. He was the son of
A. M. Ray and
Virginia Marsden. Earl Rufus Ray married
Edna LaVerne Morris, daughter of
Oren Carlton Morris and
LaZette Pearl McNeely, on 18. Sep. 1931 at Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico. Earl Rufus Ray died on 24. Mar. 1995 at Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas, at age 86. He was buried at Resthaven Funeral Home and Cemetery, Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas.
Occupation: High school band Director for 20 years.
The earliest records of a high school band in Monahans, Texas, are of the 1928 group which was organized by Earl (Rosey) Ray. It had 18 or 20 members. When Mr. Ray moved from Monahans the band crumbled. He also organized the first band in Wink, Texas.
"Earl attended Tarleton State College in Stephenville, TX for two years where he played euphonium in the band. His family moved to Breckenridge, TX where Earl was befriended by the high school band director, Pop Frazier. There was a band director job open at Monahans, TX and they were interested in Earl Ray. Pop Frazier gave him a "crash course" on woodwinds and conducting. In addition, Col. Earl D. Irons and D. O. Wiley helped Earl with literature, teaching techniques, etc. After a year at Monahans, Earl was hired by Wink High School to organize a band. He directed both bands for a year then became the Wink High School band director. Earl took the Wink band to Tulsa, OK in 1931 to the first National Band Contest where he met John Phillip Sousa. In 1935, Earl became the director of the Abilene, KS High School Band. During this tenure, his bands continued to win National Contests and some of his judges included: A. A. Harding, Franko Goldman, Frank Simon, Bill Revelli, and Mark Hindsley. Earl continued his education during the summer months. He studied euphonium with Joseph De Luca, the euphonium soloist with the Sousa Band. Earl earned his bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and his master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado. In 1942 he became the band director at Highland Park High School in North Dallas. In 1946 he became the Co-Ordinator of Music at Highland Park High School.
In 1954 Earl and LaVerne opened the Earl Ray Music Company in Lubbock, TX where they remained until retirement in 1984. During that time and until his passing in 1995, Earl and LaVerne served as Texas Tech Band bus sponsors for 35 years! LaVerne continues to travel with the "Goin' Band from Raider land". Earl and LaVerne have been honored with many memberships and awards. Scholarships and service awards are named in honor of them by Texas Tech's chapters of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Earl and Laverne had three highly successful careers as band director and supporting spouse, as music store owners, and probably most importantly, advocates of band music and counselors of young band directors. Through their love of bands and support of band activities, they have affectionately touched thousands of lives.
Capitan, New Mexico served as a place of retreat for the Rays...please enjoy Capitan Majesty." (Submitted by LaVerne Morris Ray, 1999.).