Hidden away in the trees, on top of his own hill, rests the home of retired University professor T.J. Ray. He is a jack of many trades who lives his life humbly, with no regrets.
Ray was born in Louisville, Mississippi in 1938. He graduated from Louisville High School, received a B.A. and M.A. in English from Mississippi College and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. Though he first worked as a professor at other colleges and universities, including Mississippi State University, Ray found his home at Ole Miss in 1971 as the director of freshman English.
Former professor T.J. Ray shows a photo in his home. (Photo by: Kristen Lusby)
For 30 years, Ray taught courses varying from English Composition to Linguistic Science. These interests intersected in Medieval English, and Ray joined UM as the University’s first medievalist. Ray said his decision to pursue a doctorate and become a medievalist sparked from teaching Beowulf to sophomore classes in a prior teaching position.
For many years, Ray was the only linguist in the department of english. The linguistics major was created in 1992. There are now 20 faculty linguists on campus and typically around 30 linguistics majors each year.
The undergraduate award in linguistics was renamed the T.J. Ray Award at the suggestion of the linguistics faculty to honor Ray upon his retirement. Ray became an emeritus professor at retirement, allowing him to retain his title as a professor.
Ray said when the University decided to give a personal computer to every faculty member who wanted one, he worked with other University employees to convert an empty office in Weir Hall into a space for faculty to try new technologies. Ray said those involved decided the University needed a place to educate faculty on technological innovations.
“We set up a thing in the basement of the library, and it came to be called the Faculty Technology Development Center, which it still is,” Ray said. “My three colleagues and I started it, and I really think we did something good.”
In addition to his role in the overall development of the University, many say Ray greatly impacted those around him. In 1988, Donald Dyer, now Chair of Modern Languages, met Ray when he came to the University as an assistant professor in the linguistics department.
“I was the only other linguist on campus at the time, and we forged a quick friendship,” Dyer said. “In fact, in those early days of mine on campus, T.J. was very much a mentor to me. I spoke with him about many things. Dr. Ray was very helpful to me in my early career and served as a role model. As a teacher, Dr. Ray was supportive and demanding. He was informative, funny and engaging. As a colleague, he was dedicated and loyal, and as a friend he was unwavering, faithful and thoughtful.”
Ray keeps a busy schedule in retirement. He chairs the County Planning Commission.
“Right now it’s very busy because we’re talking about new plans and land use policies in the county,” Ray said. Ray also works four days most weeks at a local food pantry, contributes photos to HottyToddy.com and authors weekly columns for the Oxford Eagle.
His home is decorated with his own photographs of birds and flowers and hand-woven creations. Inspired by Ansel Adams and his black-and-white photography of the West, Ray said he now learns daily to appreciate nature in new ways.
“I’ve always liked nature,” Ray said. “I was a scout master for about 10 or 14 years, but in shooting flowers or birds I’m coming to appreciate the miracle of what’s here.”
Having been in the community for over 40 years, Ray still sees people from his teaching days. About a month ago, a woman approached Ray at the food pantry, asking doubtfully if he remembered her. He didn’t.
“I had no idea who she was, and come to find out, I had her back in a class in ’75. It’s really neat to run into people whose lives I’ve messed up and see they are still alive,” Ray said with a smile.
Lasherica Thornton
