Jim Ray - '77

August 20, 2024

Topic: Meet our Alumni

Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern

 

From a young age, Jim Ray, an alumnus of District 21, learned the valuable lesson of taking the chance to try something new. This was one of many lessons he learned during his time at Cooper Middle School. In seventh grade, Ray decided he wanted to try something different. Though he had never run before, he heard about Cooper’s cross country team and wanted to give it a shot. Despite it being new for him, he was met with lots of support and ended up becoming one of the top runners on the team by eighth grade. This opportunity pushed him to explore further, leading him to try playing the trombone in the concert band as well as participating in the school’s musical, Guys and Dolls. Ray described the culture at Cooper as a very encouraging atmosphere, especially when it came to trying new things. He stated, “I had never run before or been in the band before. But I took advantage of those opportunities. If you want to try something, try it. The advice is, you’ll find out what you like by trying things. I never had regrets about trying anything new.”

Ray carried this mindset with him to high school and college, where he wanted to continue his passion for the trombone and auditioned for the District 214 symphony orchestra. Ray described this as a more challenging venture, mainly due to the demanding audition process. However, after hard work and dedication, he was accepted into the orchestra. After playing for only five years at that point, the orchestra Ray participated in competed in an international competition in Europe for symphony orchestras, where Ray’s orchestra took first place. While attending Taylor University in 1985, Ray was asked to attend an NBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis to represent the university as part of a larger pep band consisting of students from various Indiana universities. These are just a couple of examples that highlight the evolution Ray underwent from the simple curiosity of trying something new.

To this day, Ray still loves to play the trombone just as he did in middle school. He spends time playing with his wife, who is also a musician, and enjoys participating in local community band groups.

Ray is a man of many hobbies; he spends much of his free time on his interest in coin collecting, particularly numismatics. Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals, and related objects. Ray is currently a member of the Illinois Numismatics Association. Through this association, Ray uses the knowledge he’s gained about coins to teach new perspectives on history and geography to students in local schools. Ray is also a member of the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, where he participates in many activities related to environmental upkeep, including the Buffalo Grove Arboretum Club.

Since graduating from Cooper Middle School, Ray has never stopped trying to grow and explore new things. The abundance of encouragement he received from his teachers at Cooper, especially from his concert band director, Mrs. Sypniewski, and cross country coach, Mr. Saylor, taught him to find the things he loves and work hard for them.