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Richard Ray | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Thomas Brinkley |
| Succeeded by | Mac Collins |
| Mayor ofPerry, Georgia | |
| In office 1964–1970 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Belmont Ray (1927-02-02)February 2, 1927 Fort Valley, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | May 29, 1999(1999-05-29) (aged 72) Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
Richard Belmont Ray (February 2, 1927 – May 29, 1999) was an American politician who served as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives forGeorgia's 3rd congressional district from 1983 to 1993.
Ray was born inFort Valley, Georgia, and graduated fromCrawford County High School inRoberta, Georgia, in 1944.
After graduating from high school, Ray served in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II, from 1944 to 1946. After the war, Ray worked as a farmer and local businessman before serving as mayor ofPerry, Georgia, from 1964 to 1970. During that time,Sam Nunn was city attorney, and after Nunn's election to theUnited States Senate in 1972, Ray became Nunn's administrative assistant.[1]
In 1982, Ray was elected as aDemocrat to theUnited States House of Representatives representingGeorgia's 3rd congressional district. He was re-elected to that position four times.
After the 1990 Census, Georgia gained a new congressional district. Despite this, the Democratic-controlledGeorgia General Assembly dismantledGeorgia's 6th congressional district and shifted much of the southern portion ofNewt Gingrich's old territory into Ray'sColumbus-based district. However, the new district was considerably more urban andRepublican than Ray's old district. Ray lost to Republicanstate SenatorMac Collins, a resident of the former Gingrich territory, by almost 10 points.
After his congressional service, Ray resided in bothByron, Georgia andAlexandria, Virginia. He died inMacon, Georgia in 1999.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromGeorgia's 3rd congressional district January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | Succeeded by |
