CaMPUS - University of Arkansas at Monticello
CaMPUS - University of Arkansas at Monticello
CaMPUS - University of Arkansas at Monticello
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The <strong>University</strong> will<br />
honor Provost Ray<br />
for his 42 years <strong>of</strong><br />
service with a retire-<br />
ment reception on<br />
Friday, June 22, 2012,<br />
from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30<br />
p.m. in the Green Room<br />
<strong>of</strong> the John F. Gibson<br />
<strong>University</strong> Center. The<br />
public is invited.<br />
12<br />
avid Ray has vivid memories <strong>of</strong> his first speech<br />
as a student <strong>at</strong> Texas Tech. He just can’t remember<br />
how it ended. “I had an absolute dread<br />
<strong>of</strong> getting up and giving a speech,” says Ray,<br />
who recently announced his retirement from<br />
the administr<strong>at</strong>ion and faculty <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong><br />
D<strong>of</strong> <strong>Arkansas</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Monticello</strong> after 42 years.<br />
UAM MAGAZINE<br />
A Man<br />
For All<br />
Seasons<br />
For more than four decades, Ray served as a speech teacher, director <strong>of</strong> deb<strong>at</strong>e and<br />
forensics, cre<strong>at</strong>or <strong>of</strong> UAM’s n<strong>at</strong>ionally-acclaimed deb<strong>at</strong>e team, dean <strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong> Arts<br />
and Humanities, and finally, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Along the<br />
way, he impacted several gener<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> students with an affable, easy-going manner th<strong>at</strong><br />
belied his own fear <strong>of</strong> public speaking.<br />
“The first speech class I took I went to the pr<strong>of</strong>essor and said ‘You’ve got to help me,’”<br />
Ray recalls. “I don’t even remember finishing th<strong>at</strong> speech. My pr<strong>of</strong>essor said we should<br />
look <strong>at</strong> the students’ critiques and see wh<strong>at</strong> they thought. They all thought I did well and<br />
made a good present<strong>at</strong>ion, but I was so overcome with fear I didn’t even realize I had finished<br />
the speech. Th<strong>at</strong> was my start. I thought, wow, if I can overcome this, th<strong>at</strong>’s wh<strong>at</strong> I<br />
want to do.”<br />
Ray’s career choice was a fortuitous one for UAM. Through the years, his students<br />
have gone on to successful careers in business, government, educ<strong>at</strong>ion and the law. “David<br />
is a part <strong>of</strong> this institution’s history, a remarkable instructor, an esteemed colleague,<br />
and a dear personal friend,” says Chancellor Jack Lassiter. “He has been a positive influence<br />
on the lives <strong>of</strong> so many students. Those who came through his deb<strong>at</strong>e and forensics<br />
program are a lasting legacy to his contributions to higher educ<strong>at</strong>ion.”<br />
A n<strong>at</strong>ive <strong>of</strong> San Antonio, Tex., and a psychology major <strong>at</strong> Texas Tech, Ray had been<br />
accepted to gradu<strong>at</strong>e school <strong>at</strong> the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Texas but got sidetracked when the head