Richard Ray
Encyclopedia
Richard Belmont Ray was an American
politician
from Georgia
.
Ray was born in Fort Valley, Georgia
, and graduated from Crawford County
High School in Roberta, Georgia
, in 1944. He then served in the United States Navy
during World War II
, from 1944 to 1946. After the war, Ray was a farmer and local businessman before serving as mayor of Perry, Georgia
, from 1964 to 1970. During that time Sam Nunn
was city attorney, and after Nunn's election to the United States Senate
in 1972, Ray became Nunn's administrative assistant.
In 1982, Ray was elected as a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
representing Georgia's 3rd congressional district
in 1982. He was re-elected to that position four times.
After the 1990 Census, Georgia picked up a congressional district. Despite this, the Democratic-controlled Georgia General Assembly
, seeing a chance to get rid of Newt Gingrich
, dismantled his old 6th District and shifted much of the southern portion of Gingrich's old territory into Ray's Columbus
-based district. However, the new territory was considerably more urban and Republican
than Ray's old territory. Ray lost to Republican state senator Mac Collins
, a resident of the former Gingrich territory, by almost 10 points.
After his congressional service, Ray resided in both Byron, Georgia
and Alexandria, Virginia
. He died in 1999 in Macon, Georgia
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Ray was born in Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
, and graduated from Crawford County
Crawford County, Georgia
Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 12,495. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 12,483. The unincorporated county seat is Knoxville.-History:...
High School in Roberta, Georgia
Roberta, Georgia
Roberta is a city in Crawford County, Georgia, United States. The population was 808 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Roberta is located at ....
, in 1944. He then served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1944 to 1946. After the war, Ray was a farmer and local businessman before serving as mayor of Perry, Georgia
Perry, Georgia
Perry is a city in Houston county in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Warner Robins, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,600 at the 2000 census. This town is the county seat of Houston County...
, from 1964 to 1970. During that time Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
was city attorney, and after Nunn's election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1972, Ray became Nunn's administrative assistant.
In 1982, Ray was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing Georgia's 3rd congressional district
Georgia's 3rd congressional district
Georgia's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. The district is based in west central Georgia and stretches from Columbus in the south to the southern edge of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area in the north, including Fayette, Coweta, Henry, and Spalding...
in 1982. He was re-elected to that position four times.
After the 1990 Census, Georgia picked up a congressional district. Despite this, the Democratic-controlled Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
, seeing a chance to get rid of Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
, dismantled his old 6th District and shifted much of the southern portion of Gingrich's old territory into Ray's Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
-based district. However, the new territory was considerably more urban and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
than Ray's old territory. Ray lost to Republican state senator Mac Collins
Mac Collins
Michael Allen "Mac" Collins , American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005, representing the...
, a resident of the former Gingrich territory, by almost 10 points.
After his congressional service, Ray resided in both Byron, Georgia
Byron, Georgia
Byron is a city in Peach County, Georgia, United States. A small portion of the city extends into Houston County. The population was 2,887 at the 2000 census...
and Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. He died in 1999 in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
.