I knew Ray for many years. I met him one day at the Orono club during one of his F-bomb ladden rants about some anti gun group or another. Over the years he let me try several of his fine firearms. He gave me great advice about shooting. I still haven't implemented all the things he has shown me. Every time I do, I notice getting better.
I only found out relatively recently that he was ill. Even then, he still encouraged me to continue trying to get Cowboy Action started at Orono. Every time a problem would come up he would just tell me to keep at it. When he could tell that I was at my wits end with it, he made me understand why I was trying and not to forget that. He started talking with me more and more about the Cowboy thing. I remember one of our last conversations about it, he seemed very excited. Nicole came out to the range and told me Ray was in the club house and wanted to talk to me about Cowboy Action. I packed up right away and went in, kind of felt like the kid getting called to the principal's office. When I got in there he started asking me about all the equipment and everything, which was weird because it was usually me that would be asking him about everything. He asked me if he could use his "webley's" which I soon discovered were some of his favorite guns. I told him he could, who was I to say no. He told me that he wanted to use a strong side draw and a cross draw and wanted to know if I thought that would be good. I said it was and that a lot of guys do that. This seemed to make him very happy. He then asked when the next match I was going to was, I told him.
He showed up at that match very early, and eager. I didn't recognize him at first, considering. He was just going to watch, which I guess should have been a clue to how ill feeling he was. I introduced him and Nicole to the match director. I could tell the Match director was taken aback with how enthusiastic Ray was, and how excited he seemed that he could use his Webley's. Ray proceeded to give Jerome a 15 minute lecture on the firearm. I could only stand there and listen, it was something to see, like two worlds colliding. Ray really liked the match, it was actually the best match I had ever shot, with only one miss (still striving for the clean match). A lot of the competitors when they were waiting for their turn would walk up and speak with Ray and Nicole (I don't know what was said obviously), but some of them came up to me and asked if that was my friend from Orono who was so eager about the Cowboy, I said yes and that he was a great guy and an excellent shooter.
For weeks after that, I discussed with Ray about upcoming matches, and he told me he was getting ready and that as soon as he felt up to it he would be at one with me. I thought he was getting better. The last time I saw him was at the Orono club where he was showing me a Ruger in 45 Colt. Until I heard the news, I thought that he might be getting out to the match in a couple weeks. This past Saturday was a big match in Hamilton that I was going to go to, but I just didn't feel up to it for some reason, I then got the news.
Ray was a good guy and a great friend. An annual memorial IDPA match would be great, I think Steve David would be the guy to make that happen & I will help out however I can. Ray gave me my IDPA course, but I think I will remember him more for the time I spent with him near the end, talking about the Cowboy Action thing, kind of funny really, instead of English Bob it would be Irish Ray. I really don't feel up to it myself right now, but Ray told me the Cowboy Alias he wanted to use for Cowboy matches, and I think I will shoot a match for him under that name next week and perhaps the same match every year. I will shoot it like he wanted to (except for the webley's).
I still haven't figured out how to tell my Dad about Ray. I know my Dad looked very much forward to seeing and speaking with Ray. Dad got a real kick out of Ray's colorful way of speaking. It's funny that we never take the time to appreciate the time we have with the people that are important to us, at least with Ray the time you got to spend with him was nothing if not memorable and I guess that speaks volumes about him.
Never at a loss for words that is for sure. Just an all around great guy!!!!
