Technically, Ray did not apply to be on The Amazing Race - Deana did. But when she needed a strong and competitive partner for the adventure, she knew that Ray was the best choice. Intense and focused, Ray will be remembered for admonishing Deana to "suck it up!"
Crossing the cooling towers on a rope bridge in Soweto, South Africa - and winning the 2 SUVs - stands out as Ray's favorite memory of the Race, and "the biggest rush of my life." On the flip side, his worst memory of the Race was getting eliminated by seconds in a footrace to the mat.
He thinks that he and Uchenna would have worked well together as a team. Also, "Rob and I would be a very productive and entertaining team." If he were to choose a female, other than Deana, as a partner, Ray would choose Kelly McCorkle, "because of her competitive fire." Ray would "absolutely" do it again with Deana ("as long as she sucked it up!"), or with someone else that has the same competitive drive.
Ray has enjoyed other Race teams over the seasons. "Kevin and Drew (TAR1), Cha Cha Cha (TAR2) and Lynn and Alex (TAR7) all amused me. Gretchen and Meredith (TAR7) both amused and inspired me."
A busy stockbroker and entrepreneur, Ray lives in Canfield, Ohio with wife (and Race partner) Deana. They celebrated their marriage in May 2005 with an elegant Amazing Race-themed wedding, since it was the Race that brought them together. He has three children - Raymond (age 10), Ryan (age 7) and Raegan, born in April 2006. Ray is "enjoying being a new father once again," and, because they are "gluttons for punishment," they also recently adopted three chocolate lab puppies. As if all that weren't enough, Ray also fills his time with regular weightlifting and singing in a local vocal group, The Classics. People might also be surprised to learn that he makes creative centerpieces to decorate his house during the holidays, and can often be found with his nose in a book! "An enigma," he says.
Ray is serious about physical fitness and believes that he's in the best shape of his life now. "Although I have accomplished many of my athletic goals during my lifetime, I guess I'm most proud of making All-American in flag football several times during my late 30s/early 40's while playing in a 21-and-over league. I think it says a lot about my training to be among the best in the country in a very physical sport that usually is dominated by those much younger than me. I'll never concede that age can affect my physical abilities." However, he does admit that his biggest flaw is that he is too competitive - which, he says, will come to no surprise to those who watched him on TAR7.
The eternal optimist, Ray says that the glass isn't half-full, "it's always overflowing to me. I also believe that everybody's destiny is in their own hands and if you don't like your current lot in life, then get off your butt and do something about it."
Ray says that his primary goal in life is "to be the best parent that I could possibly be, and to raise my children to do the same. When all is said and done, I'd like to think that I will always be defined by my value as a father. I feel that is the ultimate gauge of a man - raising another person to be the best person they could be - is an incredible responsibility. Luckily I had the best to learn from!"
