McKendree University Athletics

Ray earned four varsity letters in track while competing in the javelin, discuss, shot put, and pole vault. During his freshman year he set a Little Nineteen Conference record of 187 feet, 8 inches, for the javelin at the Illinois state meet, finished second in the javelin event at the nationally prestigious Drake Relays at Des Moines, Iowa, and placed fourth in the Kansas Relays and third at the National Intercollegiate Meet in Chicago. From his sophomore to his senior years he broke his own record in the javelin event at the Illinois state meet each year, ending with a record throw of 197 feet, 8 inches his senior year. He also set a McKendree record in the discus at the 1925 Illinois state meet with a throw of 126 feet, 9 inches winning him second place. In 1928 Ray set a McKendree record that qualified him for the Olympic tryouts at Harvard University with a 209 foot, 8 ¾ inch javelin toss. He was the first McKendrean qualified to try out and the only McKendree Little Nineteen state track champion. He consistently earned 10 to 14 points at every meet, combining points in the discus, shot put, and pole vault with his sure five-point javelin event.