Iowans react to the death of the beloved five-term former Gov. Robert D. Ray
Danielle GehrWith the passing of former Iowa Gov. Robert Ray, Iowans and others have taken to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and more to express their remorse over his passing to share their gratitude for his legacy, with many pointing to his welcoming of refugees during the Vietnam war.
More:'We will never forget him': Iowa leaders mourn former Gov. Bob Ray
The Register's Editorial:Gov. Bob Ray brought out our best, made us proud to be Iowans
Ray reached out to Southeast Asian refugees displaced by the Vietnam War and other conflicts. In 1974, Ray opened Iowa's borders to Tai Dam refugees and then Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian refugees in 1977.
Here are some reactions to the passing of the beloved five-term governor:
Have a story? Share your memories of Bob Ray with us.
Don and Therese Roth of Denver, Colorado, sent these thoughts to the Register at online@dmreg.com:
What sad news to hear of the death of my classmate, Gov. Bob Ray. We graduated together in the TRHS (Theodore Roosevelt High School) class of 1946. Bob was a fellow basketball player. We shared the competition and the good life of High School social living.
Our last personal visit was our 50th High School class reunion in Des Moines where we enjoyed a family gathering with my wife, Therese Roth, with Billie and Bob Ray and several other 1946 graduates.
What a thrill to have had such a close relationship to an outstanding individual.
Eric Davis of Camdenton, Missouri, shared the following:
I covered the legislature and Governor Ray in 1978-79 for Black Hawk Broadcasting of Waterloo. Black Hawk had established a radio network working out of radio station KCBC in Windsor Heights. We focused on statehouse news and state agencies.
Statehouse reporters got 15 minutes with the governor three days a week during the legislative session and no matter the proposed bill in the house or senate, the governor’s reaction was always low key. With one exception.
A rumor had circulated that Iowa Air National Guard’s Adjutant General, Joe May, had been flying an Iowa Guard jet down to Florida to spend weekends with a girlfriend. Governor Ray made it known he was investigating.
A week after this announcement, a new reporter joined us for the 8:45 AM news conference. I think it was the Des Moines Tribune’s Tom Witosky who sniffed out the man’s true identity.
The “reporter” mentioned something about the Council Bluffs Non Pareil newspaper but no one could remember the Non Pareil ever covering the statehouse. The next visit with the governor saw the new guy in attendance. Witosky and a Tribune photographer were primed.
The fake reporter’s photo appeared on page 1 in that afternoon’s edition along with a report that he had been sent by General May to spy on the governor.
It was reported that Governor Ray “blew his stack,” when the news got to his office.
In short order, reporters were called to an unusual Friday evening news conference where Governor Ray announced Joe May had been fired.
It may have been the first occurrence of “fake news” in Iowa.
You may also leave your remembrance of Gov. Ray on The Ray Center's website:
— The Register's Daniel P. Finney contributed to this article.
