About Inductee

Ray is not a native of Madison County, but his family moved here from Anniston when he was only two years old. Ray went through the Huntsville School System and graduated from Lee High School in 1964. He participated in baseball, football and basketball at Lee and upon graduation attended Florence State. Ray graduated from Florence State in 1968 with a BS degree and graduated from Athens State College in 1970 with a MA degree. Ray began his coaching and teaching career at Chapman Middle School in 1968. He taught Biology and Physical Education and coached baseball, football, basketball and wrestling. In 1975, Ray transferred to Grissom High School to teach Driver Education and become the Head Baseball Coach and Head Freshman Football Coach. He would serve in both of these capacities until 2000 when he retired from coaching. During his tenure as the Head Freshman Football Coach his team won 102 games and eight city championships. Ray served as the Head Baseball Coach for 25 years and compiled a record of 489 wins and only 285 losses. He has sent over 60 players from his program on to college programs. His teams won nine city championships and advanced to the Final Four in the State in 1982 and 1991. 1989 was a magical year for Ray as his team won 34 games and only lost 4. They were City Champs, Area Champs and State Champions. Ray was chosen Huntsville City Coach of the Year in baseball several times and he won Coach of the Year in the state of Alabama in 1989. During the last twenty years of his baseball coaching career at Grissom High School, his team made the state playoffs eighteen times. Ray served in the Army Reserve from 1970 until 1998 and retired with the rank of Master Sergeant. Ray recalls, As a young man many different people in various roles had significant influences on my life, but none greater than my uncle, Oba Belcher. For years, I followed his career with intense interest as he coached many outstanding Athens College basketball teams. I observed that he always set his standards high, outworked other teams, and projected a very positive attitude through his coaching. He was a wonderful role model, and later mentor, when I began building the framework, or structure, utilized in my coaching career. His approach to coaching provided a fundamental foundation upon which I built and expanded the varied athletic programs I organized and coached throughout my career. Ray is currently teaching Driver Education at Grissom High School. Ray and his wife, Debi, have three children - daughter, Amanda, and sons Kyle and Carl.