William K. “Bill” Ray knows plenty about the meaning of “service,” military, and otherwise. Ray was recently named the Hub City's Veteran of the Year.
Ray served in the United States Marine Corps from 1955-1959. He was honorably discharged as a Lance Corporal after serving with the 2nd Marine Air Wing located at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
For Ray, “service” continued long after his military stint.
Ray became a Hattiesburg resident in 1977. In the 40-plus years that he has lived in the Hub City, he has distinguished himself many times over as a true servant-leader. He is being recognized and honored as the Hattiesburg Veteran of the Year 2019 for his sustained contributions to the City of Hattiesburg and the surrounding Pine Belt communities.
Ray said veterans share a common kindship because of their service.
William K. “Bill” Ray accepts the honor and makes note of the number of veterans in Mississippi, and that the rest of the world would like to live here.
“There are so many veterans in the area, like 196,000-197,000 in Mississippi,” he said. “If you’ve served in the military when you come out, it’s like a college football team; you become bonded for life. You have a great respect for your country, a great respect for your flag, the office of president, and our nation as a whole. The rest of the world would like to be here.”
Although Hattiesburg is not his hometown, he and his wife, Charlotte “Chalie” Carroll Ray, have grown to love the Hub City.
William K. “Bill” Ray - Veteran of the Year, noted community leader.
“Hattiesburg is a great city,” he said. “I was born in north Mississippi, I spent 15 years in Clarksdale, and when I came here, it was very evident that this is a great city. It is a patriotic city, and it is one that has great volunteers that are willing to pitch in and make it better for somebody else that they may never know. Everybody is not like that.”
After being named Hattiesburg's Veteran of the Year, Ray was honored during the Veterans Day events held in Downtown Hattiesburg earlier this week.
In his service in the private sector, Ray has been Chair of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, President of the Mississippi Hospital Association, and served as a regent for the Mississippi Affiliates of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Ray currently serves as a Tri-Chair on The Area Development Partnership’s Pinnacle Campaign Leadership Council, which is a five-year private sector fundraising initiative to underwrite an economic and community development program in Greater Hattiesburg from 2016-2020. Pinnacle provides funding for economic development services, to assist expanding local businesses, recruiting right-fit companies, connecting all significant facets of the community, as well as keeping Greater Hattiesburg a premier health and wellness retirement community in Mississippi.
Ray is also President and Chief Executive Officer of the Asbury Foundation of Hattiesburg, Incorporated and has served in this capacity since 1999. Established in 1984, the Asbury Foundation is a private grant-making organization that strengthens education and health in the Pine Belt and throughout Mississippi.
NOTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
When Ray moved to Hattiesburg, he was the President and CEO of Wesley Health System. When the hospital was sold in 1997, $35 million was invested in the Asbury Foundation as the surviving not-for-profit corporation. Through the use of these funds and his leadership, many of the following endeavors have been supported and accomplished:
• Led the project to obtain and erect the U.S. and military-service flags displayed at the entryway to the City of Hattiesburg on Highway 49 at the Hattiesburg Convention Center.
• Spearheaded the financial support to William Carey University for numerous brick and mortar projects.
• Initiated financial support to the University of Southern Mississippi for numerous brick and mortar projects, to include the recently completed Asbury School of Nursing.
• Was pivotal in providing financial support for the renovation of the R3SM (Recover, Rebuild, and Restore Southeast Mississippi) building located at 301 Buschman St. in downtown Hattiesburg.
Ray now serves on the following boards: Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, William Carey University; Board of Directors, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Pine Belt Area; and since 2002, Chairman of the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport Authority Board.
Ray was conferred the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters by William Carey University on May 16, 2015.
For additional information, contact retired Col. Sheila Varnado, Chair, Hattiesburg Veterans Selection Committee at varnados@comcast.net, or 601.606.5209.