Nolan Maxie's Texas. (original) (raw)

Ramblin' Ray was born in the Ark-La-Tex not too long after the beginning of the Great Depression there in Deep Northeast Texas. He says it has often brought both its blessings and its curses. The depression was still in full swing for his family when he was born and continued long thereafter. It taught people, especially in east Texas, many things like discipline, frugality, patience and a great sense of family unity. He says that they were so poor, they looked up to people on welfare. And not ever knowing much prosperity or that better things abound, they never really realized they were in a depression. There are people in areas of that region today still in status-quo. Some have never fully recovered and never will. They are very complacent, finding solace in knowing that "home is where the heart is."

During the several years after completing high school really came the toughest times. Ray unsuccessfully tried out for athletic scholarships at a couple of Texas and Louisiana colleges. Many of his peers had to leave that area to find employment. He worked three years for a homebuilder in Shreveport, Louisiana, while attending the Louisiana Trades School. There he gained valuable knowledge and experience in the building trades, marking time until becoming of age to apply for other jobs. He also spent one year in Houston at a couple of other minuscule jobs. There he had a significant experience in "cultural shock". Big Metropolitan Houston had it for a young, greenhand, farm-fresh country boy from Deep Northeast Texas. He couldn't take that for long. Remember, "You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy."

In 1960, Ray was one of only two applicants accepted from about 250 others at Tyler, Texas, for the Texas DPS Academy in Austin. After successfully completing the very challenging academy, he worked ardently for them for several years and became known as "Ramblin' Ray"; the chaparral bird. Later on he accepted an assignment as Special Texas Ranger. In that capacity his work took him throughout Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and often, Missouri and Illinois, doing loss prevention and claims investigations for Texas railroads. It was also during those years that he attended East Texas State University and night school at the University of Houston. Up until retirement, he maintained status as an actively certified Texas peace officer.

Ray found railroad work to be the most interesting and challenging. It involved a great deal of travel, both by rail and by air. Working once in a "super" severe winter ice and snow storm along the Mississippi River. It was a long assignment at the gigantic rail yard in East St. Louis, IL. He also worked on location at scenes of large train derailments and crossing accidents. Often Ray worked long hours during extensive railroad labor disputes in Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. Later on, he spent several years as Transportation Officer with the Texas Prison System.

Ramblin' Ray and wife, Jean, have two grown sons and three baby grands. Jean was Ray's high school sweetheart and they both are from the "Class of '57". Both are long time "public servants", now retired and enjoy volunteering most any place, writing, public speaking, family (grandchildren) and friends. They find pleasure in pets, especially in "Dixie" the Molly mule and "Turbo" and "Robin" the Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys.

Ray is a long time dedicated blood donor, now at 140 donations, totaling 18 gallons. He still donates regularly. It all started helping an injured friend in 1962 and over the years, he hopes that his blood donations have helped many injured and ill people recover and regain a normal life.

Texas Escapes, John and Kate were discovered by Ray in a most unusual and rewarding fashion. While researching Sanderson, Texas, and planning a train trip there, John was most helpful and congenial. They are a God send. Hats off to John and Kate, and their enormous project.

Nolan Maxie

January 17, 2005

Nolan Maxie's articles have appeared in:
Ezines:

USA Deep South - Ms.
Muscadine Lines - A Southern Journal - Tn.
Open Minds Quarterly - Sudbury, ON. Canada
The Forward Press - UK
Pen-point View - WVa.

Newspapers:
Conroe Courier - Tx.
Atlanta Citizens Journal - Tx.