Bob Ray, Longtime Republican Iowa Governor, Dies

DES MOINES, IA — Bob Ray, the former five-term Republican Iowa governor who had a passion for sports, cars and family, has reportedly died at a retirement community in Des Moines. He was 89.

Ray died of natural causes at the Wesley Acres facility, where he had been living for years, The Des Moines Register reported. Drake University confirmed on its website that Ray died on Sunday.

"Governor Ray proudly served as Iowa’s 38th governor and, later in his career, as the 11th president of Drake University, from April 1998 to May 1999," the university wrote. "He received his B.A. in business from Drake in 1952, and his juris doctorate from Drake Law School in 1954."

Ray is survived by his wife, Billie, three daughters and eight grandchildren.

“Bob Ray defined the modern era governorship for Iowa and beyond,” said David Oman, Ray’s former chief of staff. “More importantly, he touched the lives of three generations of Iowans, who respected, trusted
and followed his leadership. He will be greatly missed by many; his legacy will extend for
decades to come.”

According to his bio, Ray grew up in the Drake neighborhood and met his wife at what is now known as First Christian Church. They were students at Roosevelt High School at the time and began dating in 1945. They ultimately married in December 1951.

"His life revolved around love of family, first as a son and brother, followed by his passion to be a devoted husband, dedicated father to the Ray’s three daughters and adoring grandfather to their eight grandchildren," the bio said.

Ray served in the U.S. Army in Japan after World War II. His political career started when he became a law and reading clerk in the Iowa State Senate. In 1963, Ray was elected Iowa Republican State Chairman and became a member of the Republican National Committee. He took it upon himself to try to rebuild the GOP following heavy losses in the 1964 Goldwater fiasco. Republicans elected three new congressional lawmakers and 88 state legislators two years later.

His leadership lead to calls for a gubernatorial bid, something he was able to accomplish in 1968. He was re-elected in 1970 and 1972. He was subsequently elected to the state's first four-year terms in 1974 and 1978.

Ray was known for his steady, open, bipartisan leadership and became the state’s first four-term, then five-term governor.

During his tenure, the state reformed — and greatly expanded — funding for K-12 education. Ray also led efforts to eliminate the sales tax on food and drugs, established the state Energy Policy Council and then Department of Environmental Quality.

Ray also served as chairman of the National Governors’ Association, Republican Governors’ Association, Midwest Governors’ Association, the Education Commission of the States, and president of the Council of State Governments.

Also of note, then Gov. Ray in the 1970s became a global leader in resettling refugees from Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam by helping them move to Iowa and, find work and begin anew.

“I didn’t think we could just sit here idly and say, let those people die," he said. "We wouldn’t want the rest of the world to say that about us if we were in the same situation. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.”

Ray had a lifelong passion for sports, particularly for Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball due to his time
being a color commentator for Iowa Hawkeye football games in the 1950s and 1960s, his bio said. Ray was also an "ardent tennis and ping-pong enthusiast," the bio said, and loved cars, frequently attending the Indianapolis 500.

The funeral service is pending and details will be announced sometime soon.

Photo credit: Drake University