Jerrol Jay Ray

Jerry was born on October 11, 1934 in Dallas, Texas. He was adopted by Velma and James Ray, and spent his childhood in Freeport where he graduated from Freeport High School in 1952. Jerry received a Bachelor of Science in commerce from Texas Christian University in 1958 where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and met many lifelong friends. Jerry and his wife, Betty, met in 1964. They married shortly after and shared 52 wonderful years together to the day.

Jerry taught his family so many things. His love of fun and people, his unwavering loyalty, as well as his bigger than life personality are some of the many things that his family and friends will miss. He was a giver and a doer and gave so much of himself to others. Jerry was a member of the Rotary Club of Austin, where serving as Santa Claus to the children at the Helping Hand Home was the highlight of his holiday season. Jerry received numerous awards from the Rotary Club; he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and awarded the Service Above Self Award, just to name a few. Jerry's love of, and passion, for TCU started at a very young age. Since the 1890s, there have only been two decades when a family member was not involved in the University as a student or volunteer. Jerry served on TCU's Board of Trustees from 1992 to 2012 and as Emeritus Trustee since April 2012. He had significant influence upon his alma mater by serving as President of the TCU Alumni Association, a member of the National Alumni Board, the Austin Alumni Board and the Austin Regional Council. He was a member of the Chancellor's Council and The B.M. and Frances Britain Society. He was recognized with the President's Service Award for 1992-1994 and was awarded the Valuable Alumnus Award in 1999. Jerry's entreasured collection of horned frog figures is housed in the Ray Gallery in the Alumni and Visitors center on campus. Jerry was very well known for taking potential students to visit TCU to meet the Chancellor. He graciously lent support to TCU from the endowed scholarship that honors his late daughter, Kimberly Kash Ray Corona, to the Tucker Technology Center, to the Institute of Child Development, to Horned Frog athletics. Perhaps Jerry's proudest contribution to the university is The Ray Gates, which Betty honored him with for his 70th birthday; they serve as the formal entryway to the south campus.

Jerry's professional life was just as broad. As a strong and intelligent man, he forged a successful career in the bowling business. Jerry came to Austin from Fort Worth to manage Dart Bowl for the late Harry Lee Peterson, Jr. in 1967. Harry and Jerry were soon partners and Jerry was very instrumental in growing the business, expanding from one to four bowling centers in the Austin market. Jerry retired in 2000 and turned over operations to his new partner, Harry's grandson, John Donovan. Although Jerry was retired, he still came to the bowling centers almost every day to have lunch and visit with his bowling friends.

Jerry received numerous awards from the bowling community, both nationally and locally. Jerry was inducted into both the Austin Bowling Association and the Texas State Bowling Association Halls of Fame. Jerry served on numerous committees at both the state and national levels; he was President and Chairman of the Board for the Texas Bowling Centers Association and was the recipient of the Ruben A. Dankoff Award for Public Policy and Legislative Service.

Known as Pawpaw by his four grandchildren, he treasured spending time with each of them and made every one of them feel loved and special. He loved taking them to TCU football games, always followed by a stop at the campus bookstore. Jerry enjoyed traveling with Betty and took many wonderful trips with family. Coin collecting and antiquing were a few favorite pastimes. If on a trip with Jerry, you could be assured a stop along the way at a coin or antique shop. The door would fly open and Jerry would loudly ask, "You got any horned toads in here? How about a $20 gold piece?"

Jerry is survived by his wife Betty Herring Ray; his son, King Ray and his wife Lesli, of Austin; his four grandchildren, Chase and Myles Corona, and Kimberly and Chance Ray, all of Austin. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Kash Ray Corona.

Visitation hours will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 30th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 North Lamar, Austin. Funeral services in celebration of Jerry's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2016 in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Kimberly Kash Ray Corona Scholarship or the TCU Institute of Child Development, made payable to Texas Christian University, Attn: David Nolan, TCU Box 297044, Fort Worth, TX 76129 or to Austin Rotary Club Foundation, 301 E. 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701.