Upon reading the yearbook for the Class of 1967, Ray Richard’s entry was prophetic. He wrote that he wanted to have a career in golf, and he has done just that. Ray began his athletic career at Spellman as a baseball player on the freshman team and then on to JV as a sophomore before deciding to join the golf team for his junior and senior year. This was a good decision! His lifelong passion for the game of golf was ignited and cultivated during his final two years at Spellman. While working on his game, Ray was employed as a grounds crew member at D.W. Field Golf Course in Brockton.

After Spellman, Ray graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass with a degree in Turf Management. Then, in 1971, he joined the U.S. Navy where he was stationed for two years at the Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland. Ray reflected on how the typing skills he picked up at Spellman, paid off in the military. “When I got to Iceland, a chief petty officer asked me my name. I told him and he asked if I played golf. I said, yes I did. He told me to go back to the barracks and take a nap as we had a golf match that afternoon. After that I worked for the petty officer from then on. He got me a set of clubs and we played golf and we won the match. In Iceland, I was scheduled to work on planes and helicopters, but I then became in charge of all Navy officer records on the base. I updated their files, got travel and housing for their families and the like. My final rank when I was discharged was Yeoman Second Class (E5).”

Ray’s career in the military was not limited to a desk job. He shared his first-hand account of being part of the action. “I received a Letter of Commendation for assisting in a rescue mission when a volcano erupted in January of 1973. We flew to the volcano and shoveled lava off roofs of the homes like snow so they wouldn’t collapse. We were continually pelted by the cooling lava and the noise it made was incredible. We were there for 3 days eating mostly C-rations. The good news was no one, not even animals were hurt, but the bad news was that the town eventually became covered in lava.”

After an honorable discharge, Ray worked as an assistant superintendent at Norfolk Golf Course in Dedham and Milton Hoosic Club. Ray was a representative in the early 80s for The Dunlop Golf Company and then spent 25 years in the golf retail industry with Nevada Bob’s Golf and Tennis Shops and Joe & Leigh’s Golf Shop at Pine Oaks Golf Course in Easton. He currently works at the beautiful Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee.

Ray’s amateur golf career has been very impressive. He is the 2012 and 2011 MGA State Senior 4Ball Champion; 1995 Southeastern Massachusetts Champion; Cape Cod Amateur Champion in 1990, 1992 and 1994; 1989 Hornblower Memorial Champion; 5-time Brockton City 4Ball Champion; 4-time Thorny Lea Club Champion; 2-time John Cronin Memorial Champion. In 1989 he was a finalist in the Mass State Amateur Championship and he has been a quarter-finalist in three other Mass State Amateur Championships. Ray is also a two-time member of the Massachusetts Tri State Team. Ray won the Brockton City Open in 2004. In April 2016, Ray won the 2016 Seagulls 4Ball Championship at Hyannisport after 32 years of competing in it. He has been in the final four times prior to this year.

Ray helped to establish the committee for Spellman’s Edward Amaral Golf Tournament. He continues to serve on the committee for The Joey Glynn Memorial Golf Tournament. Without Ray, this event, which has sold out year after year, would not be possible. He currently resides with his wife Diane in Bourne and remains in close contact with many Spellman alumni. Spellman is grateful to Ray’s dedication, service to our country and continued service to our school.