The bond between Ray and I started with a cell fone call. He was shooting on the salt and
a problem was apparent to me as I viewed the images. I called him on his cell fone and
we discussed it. The next posted image was corrected. AS we talked a few days later I
told him of the problem that I had with the Target 550 website.He told me to send all of
the information that I had about the site and two days later, it probably also included
two nights, he told me to access the site. Just like that he had made it work. Since I
am a slow learner he drove the 900 miles to our house, added files to the computer and
started my education. Too much for me to grasp. Sorry Ray. Then he cleverly divided
the tasks. Things that I could do....I was assigned. He did everything else. That started
the full blown presentation of info about the car. Since that time we have done 247
posts with thousands of images. In 2013 we had 3.3 million hits from 26 countries.
Not only being my mentor he also was awarded the responsibility of Marlo Treits computers,
the fotos at the Bonneville NW Reunion, the Friday night slide show presentations, the
trip to see the restored PT boat in Portland, the 12 hour shifts when the portraits of the car
were done by an outside professional group from Portland, they were paid and he was not,
the Grand National Roadster Show where the car was included in the 100 years of Speed section
and Rufus. Since I did not attend the foto shoot he used his images and did that post. He also
arrived at Pomona earlier than I and so he also did that shoot and the post. He was a poor
sleeper so many mornings there would be something done that I had no idea would be finished
until much later in the day. The man was a machine that missed very few beats.
Soon after he started doing the web elf job for us he asked if he could be a crew member. Since
I am so smart and had the authority I immediately granted his status as a full crew member.
He will be the first passenger on Target 550. That will be on the next run that the car makes.
PROMISED.
One other contribution that was so prominent was his 20+ years of dedication to AA. He would
willingly stop whatever he was doing if one of his friends needed him. I never experienced that
service but on the way from the ER to the ICU at Stevens Hospital he offered help and guidance
to one of the medical staff. Ray never quit even on the last few hours of his life.
For the first time I have now donated to AA.
He will be a passenger on the Target550 streamliners next run.
Ray, watch for me if I ever get to that huge light box in the Clouds.
My best wishes to his sisters, Becky, Marty and his two sons Anthony and Colin.
Oh Ya.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY
FREUD