William Benton (W.B.) Ray was born in 1866 and arrived in Texas via a covered wagon at age 5. Early mentions of Ray in the newspapers aren’t about anything unique or extraordinary; they’re about his dedication to farming. He was a professional who served as president of the Cotton Exchange and on statewide committees to promote the cotton and cotton shipping industries. But he would go on the make his mark on the realm of education, as well.
During his nine years as president of the Corpus Christi Public Schools Board of Education, the number of classrooms doubled. Ray even led a drive to recover delinquent taxes due to the school system to fund additional buildings, because when he was first elected, there were 2,000 more students than the district could house.
Just a year after he retired from the school board, his name was raised as a possible namesake for a new high school campus. The school would be only the second “senior school,” alongside Miller High. Ray worked hard to advocate for the new school during his time on the board, and bonds had already passed to pay for it before he retired. He got to see the opening of W.B. Ray High School in 1950, 75 years ago this year.
He is quoted in the February 1941 edition of The American School Board Journal as saying, “The only money I have saved in a long life has been what I have put into church, schools and children, for that will go on doing good long after I have been forgotten.”
We haven’t forgotten you, Mr. Ray, but you sure made the right investment.