Thank you for all you have done for OVC over the years and enjoy your "retirement"!

Linda 71-73

Robbie Ruiz (Tompkins) <robbieygaby@yahoo.com> Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela
Signed Monday, August 29, 2011 at 11:50 PM (EDT)
What an example you have been for me and so many students throughout the years. I have wonderful memories of you driving the bus, but most of all your wonderful smile and positive attitude about everything in life. May God richly bless you!

Brian Knost <brian.knost@suddenlink.com> Williamstown, WV USA
Signed Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 11:41 AM (EDT)
Ray,

Congrats on your "retirement". Could have sworn I saw you the other day helping someone in your Pifers truck! Helping people and caring for people is what I'll remember most. That and the trip to Erie, PA to sing at my home church and the worst snow storm I've ever driven through coming home. I remember being so upset when you said we couldn't stay in Erie (my parents had bought pizza for the whole chorus)because the weather was too bad. Looking back, you had everyone's safety at heart. Also remember the trip to Graceland in Memphis...pretty awesome. You're the best friend...God Bless!

Dr. Mike Hughes <mail@mikealrhughes.com> Manteno, IL USA
Signed Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 05:36 PM (EDT)
I remember my time at OVC and Ray driving us on our Chorus trips. Great trips and great rides. Congratulations on you retirement!

Mike Hughes, D.Min., Th.D., Ph.D. P.O. Box 475 Manteno, IL 60950 Class of 1972

Jill Miller <jill-n-grant@sbcglobal.net>
Signed Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 09:15 AM (EDT)
Ray, thank you for driving the youth group, Junior Boosters, and students at OVU. We appreciate your willingness to serve all of us! Congratulations on your retirement! Grant & Jill

Dave Eldridge <1953dave@gmail.com> Birmingham, AL USA
Signed Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 10:08 AM (EDT)
What more can be said, well done! You are one of the best memories I have from my time at OVC. Thanks for being a part of my life.

Garth Pleasant <gpleasant@rc.edu> Rochester HIlls, Michigan USA
Signed Tuesday, July 05, 2011 at 07:41 PM (EDT)
Ray,

What great memories I have of OVC & Michigan Christian basketball game. Always looked forward to seeing you and Charlie "Q". Best wishes and I hope our paths cross again.

Garth

Gary Palmer <gpalmer1958@gmail.com> Canton, ohio USA
Signed Tuesday, July 05, 2011 at 05:22 PM (EDT)
Ray, Its been over 30 years ago when you befriended a young bus driver from Michigan Christian College.I soon looked forward to basketball games with ovc and chourus festivals. Those times we spent together are some great memorys. You have Been a blessing to so many over the years, God bless your retirement years. Gary

Sam Moore <sam.moore@treausurer.ok.gov> Edmond, OK
Signed Friday, June 24, 2011 at 10:56 AM (EDT)
Ray I was in the same class as Jennifer. I remember a couple of trips we took together. The first was to Boston I was so impressed with how you drove the bus through all the downtown Boston traffic. I remember the bus breaking down in PA and scaling the hill at the side of the road to get water for the bus. The other trip was to Oklahoma, you went to New England and got the bus drove to Parkersburg and then to Oklahoma City. For years as I traveled between Oklahoma and Ohio I would look at every bus hoping to see the Ohio Valley and you. I now have a CDL and drive a bus for our church and sometimes for Oklahoma Christian. There isn't a time that I drive that I don't think of you. By the way my hand hasn't been the same since our first hand shake.

JKay Stanley <jsksmay2004@yahoo.com> Clarksville, TN USA
Signed Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 08:06 PM (EDT)
Ray, I spent many hours on the bus with you, on Jr Booster trips and Chorus trips. You must have had nerves of steel!! Remember the time the bull charged the side of the bus and the farmer came screaming that we killed his bull? It sure left a "mess" and huge dent in the side of the bus. I want you to know that each time we sang that we appreciated you, we meant it. Always loved you and appreciated you!

Danny Wagner <dwagner@access.k12.wv.us> Philippi, WV USA
Signed Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12:30 PM (EDT)
Ray, I enjoyed all of the basketball trips that we took with you as our driver. You have been and are a great example to young men and women. All the best! Danny Wagner '79

Russ Brown <russ4ky@hotmail.com> Evansville, IN
Signed Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 08:12 PM (EDT)
Ray, We got together 3and chatted 3 years ago when you brought the Basketball team to Oakland City. I remember our trip to Philedephia my freshman year Oct 1983. To Be in a City with the World Series going on even brought on more History.. Happy Retirement

Dennis Cox <dennis.cox@ovu.edu> Vienna, WV USA
Signed Monday, May 23, 2011 at 08:39 AM (EDT)
I wonder if Ray remembers the time the chorus performed one Sunday morning at the Whitehall church in Pittsburgh. They fed us lunch after services and we were late getting away that afternoon for a Sunday evening appearance in Buffalo. Ray was doing his best to make up for lost time as we headed north on I - 77 when we were pulled over by a PA patrolman who was all business. After he had checked Ray's credentials and the bus's registration, he began a very thorough "safety check" of the bus. You could hear a pin drop inside the as he walked around outside kicking the tires, checking the brake lights, etc., and as he walked up the driver's side of the bus he was looking down at the ground. As he came back to Ray's window, he walked smack into the exterior rearview mirror. His head snapped back and his "Smokey the Bear" hat flew off. Almost the entire bus erupted with laughter. It wasn't funny for Ray. When he threw up a huge right hand, the bus immediately returned to dead silence. I am sure it was the loudest, shortest belly laugh any of us had ever experienced. Thanks for the memories old friend. God bless.

Clarke Warren <clarkie14@juno.com> Spotsylvania, VA United States
Signed Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 08:28 PM (EDT)
I remember Ray taking the Accapella Chorus on tour during the summer of 04. Some students started rocking the bus...lesson...don't rock the bus. Ray, thanks for serving OVU!

Lon Beach <lonkeithbeach@aol.com> Ridgeley, West Virginia
Signed Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 10:43 PM (EDT)
hello & God bless

Just wanted to add, Ray, was always loved and admired in our home. We always appreciated all the things he did. Most of the time, without thought. Just because. It was the right thing to do. thanks for all YOU do! Lon

Vickey Wade <vwade22@msn.com> Lakewood, Co
Signed Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 04:29 PM (EDT)
Yes, I've never seen such a big ring, but what was truly amazing to me was the 15-20 min. power naps and how truly rested you looked and functioned afterwards. You are a dear soul, Ray, have a great retirement!

Era Cox <era.cox@ovu.edu> Vienna, WV USA
Signed Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 02:33 PM (EDT)
I was privileged to be able to ride with Ray during his first year of transporting OVC students. During my sophomore year I was one of the chorus members who was taking the Basic Speech class from the chorus director, Ken Schott. For some reason we had to take our final written exam for Speech class on the bus at the beginning of our spring tour. I stood at the front of the bus beside Ray and put the exam on the dashboard to write out my answers. Ray was very amused by that, and he reminds me about it every time I see him.

I also remember the many times that the old bus broke down during trips and Ray would put on his coveralls and slide under the bus to make repairs even when the weather was bitterly cold. We all used to joke about pulling into the service station to check the gas and fill it up with oil.

Ray was a true servant and was dedicated to safely transporting hundreds of OVC/OVU students to their ball games and chorus performances. Thanks, Ray, for the memories.

Mary Miller <bc_marymiller@belpre.oh.k12.oh.us> belpre, oh united states
Signed Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 05:51 PM (EDT)
When we traveled with the ACapella singers, Scott and I would hang out with Ray. One of the most memorable times was the trip to the Football Hall of Fame in Canton. We were looking at the enormous rings of several football players and Ray said, "Watch this.." He took off his own wedding band and slid the football player's ring right THROUGH his own! WOW! We love you, Ray! Thanks for keeping us all safe on every trip (even when you did 'donuts'in the parking lots!). Love, Scott and Mary

serena miller <serenamill@yahoo.com> Minford, Ohio
Signed Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 09:27 PM (EDT)
It was the winter of 1969. The chorus was singing somewhere in Pennsylvania. The snow was deep. The road was steep. Everyone on the bus was asleep--and suddenly I had to go to the bathroom. Mortified to even mention the situation, I whispered my problem to Ray. We were NOT anywhere near an interstate or a well-traveled road. Just mile after mile of snow-covered, dark, isololated road. Finally, just as things got critical for me, Ray spotted a honky-tonk type of road house smack in the middle of nowhere. It was flashing a neon sign for beer, and when he stopped the bus, we could hear all kinds of shouting and fighting and drunken singing going on inside. Ray was visibly worried. He went in to evaluate the situation and came out with a key to the--outside--bathroom. While I ducked into the outhouse--he stood guard outside the door. I hurried, but when I came out, some of the men had already seen the bus filled with college students and had spotted the little coed coming out of the outhouse. It felt dangerous, and I think it was. I remember one of the men giving Ray an appraising look--as though wondering if he could take him. Ray bristled and kept his body between me and the men, and got us out of there as fast as possible. I have no doubt Ray would have fought tooth and nail for any of us kids. The memory of Ray's decency and protectiveness has stayed with me for over forty years. I've forgotten half the professors I ever had--but I've never forgotten Ray Presley.

David Kessler <coachdsk@yahoo.com> Atlanta, GA United States
Signed Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 12:11 AM (EDT)
Ray, I played Basketball for OVC way back in 1979-81. I have many great memories of you and our many road trips. Enjoy your retirement, my ol' friend.

troy gleim <troyoftroy@frontier.com> troy, ohio usa
Signed Friday, April 08, 2011 at 06:55 AM (EDT)
I remember Ray's one and only joke. When we would travel up "agony mountain." He would make us all "feel the PANE." Good one Ray! I also remember when my chorus tux got lost on the highway(literally)in Dayton, Ohio. Ray to the rescue! He was one of the few I knew that was big enough to loan me a jacket to wear.

Mark Mason <mem36st@suddenlinkmail.com> Vienna, WV USA
Signed Friday, April 01, 2011 at 03:47 PM (EDT)
Ray is so well-remembered and so beloved because he was a living definition of a servant before all those students and athletes through those 4 decades.

Ray also scared a lot of us to death! That was his bus and you did not mess with it!

Congratulations, brother, on a well-earned retirement!