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{{short description|American politician}}
'''John Henry Ray''' ([[September 27]], [[1886]] - [[May 21]], [[1975]]) was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from [[New York]].
{{more citations needed|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John H. Ray
| image = John Henry Ray (New York).jpg
| caption =
| state = [[New York (state)|New York]]
| district = {{ushr|NY|15|15th}}
| term_start = January 3, 1953
| term_end = January 3, 1963
| predecessor = [[James J. Murphy]] (redistricting)
| successor = [[John M. Murphy (New York politician)|John M. Murphy]] (redistricting)
| birth_name = John Henry Ray
| birth_date = September 27, 1886
| birth_place = [[Mankato, Minnesota]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1975|5|21|1886|9|27}}
| death_place = [[Staten Island]], New York, U.S.
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse =
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
* [[University of Minnesota]]
* [[Harvard Law School]]
⚫
}}
}}
'''John Henry Ray''' (September 27, 1886 – May 21, 1975) was an American lawyer, business executive, and politician who served as a [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[New York (state)|New York]] as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. He served five terms in Congress representing the state's {{ushr|NY|15|15th district}}, which at the time encompassed parts of [[Staten Island]] and [[Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/23/archives/exrep-john-h-ray-88-dies-att-aide-served-5-terms.html|title=Ex‐Rep. John H. Ray, 88, Dies; A. T. & T. Aide Served 5 Terms|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=23 May 1975|access-date=11 August 2022}}</ref>


==Biography==
Ray was born in [[Mankato, Minnesota]]. He graduated from the [[University of Minnesota]] in 1908 and [[Harvard Law School]] in 1911. He was an assistant to special representative of Secretary of War [[Newton D. Baker]] in 1919. He moved to [[Dongan Hills, Staten Island|Dongan Hills, New York]] in 1923. He worked with the [[American Telephone & Telegraph Company]] from 1923 until 1951. He was elected to Congress in 1952 and served from [[January 3]], [[1953]] until [[January 3]], [[1963]]. He died in [[Staten Island]].
===Early life===
Ray was born in [[Mankato, Minnesota]]. After graduating from the [[University of Minnesota]] in 1908 and [[Harvard Law School]] in 1911, Ray practiced law and was an assistant trust officer for the Wells–Dickey Trust Company in [[Minneapolis]].


He joined the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] during [[World War I]], serving first as a [[First lieutenant#U.S. Army.2C U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force|first lieutenant]] in the [[Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Army|Judge Advocate General's Corps]], and then an assistant to the special representative of Secretary of War [[Newton D. Baker]] during post-war armistice discussions with [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] governments. In 1920, he was presented with the [[Order of the Crown of Italy]] for his work with the Italian government.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Working for Baker took Ray to London & Paris and in 1920 he was presented with the Order of the Crown of Italy for his work with the Italian delegation. In 1970 appointed VP & general council of [[Western Electric]] and in 1942 promoted to VP and general council of [[American Telephone & Telegraph Company]], a position he held until mandatory retirement in 1951. When in the House of Representatives was appointed to the [[Merchant Marine]] and [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary Committee]]s. He sought to give tax breaks to firms purchasing anti-pollution equipment and the establishment of tax free pensions; Ray served as legal adviser to President [[Gerald Ford|Ford]] when the [[Michigan]] congressman was a member of the [[Warren Commission]].


===Professional career===
==Sources==
Ray moved to the [[New York City]] neighborhood of [[Dongan Hills, Staten Island|Dongan Hills]] in 1923{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} and continued to practice law. In 1937, he became vice president and general counsel for [[Western Electric]], and in 1942, he was promoted to vice president and general counsel of [[AT&T]], a position he held until retiring in 1951.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
⚫
*{{CongBio|R000077}}


===Political career===
{{start box}}
Representing New York, Ray was first elected to [[United States Congress|Congress]] in 1952 at the age of 66. He was reelected four times and served from January 3, 1953 until January 3, 1963 (the [[83rd United States Congress|83rd]], [[84th United States Congress|84th]], [[85th United States Congress|85th]], [[86th United States Congress|86th]], and [[87th United States Congress|87th]] Congresses). Ray voted in favor of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1960]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/h102|title=HR 8601. PASSAGE.}}</ref> but voted against the [[Civil Rights Act of 1957]] and the [[Twenty-fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|24th Amendment to the Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/85-1957/h42|title=HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/87-1962/h193|title=S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.|work=GovTrack.us}}</ref> While in the House, his committee assignments included being appointed to the [[United States House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries|Merchant Marine]] and [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|Judiciary]] Committees. He sought the establishment of tax-free [[pension]]s, and to give tax breaks to firms purchasing anti-pollution equipment. In addition, Ray served as legal advisor to then-Congressman [[Gerald Ford]] when Ford was a member of the [[Warren Commission]].
{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{U.S. Representative box |
Following the results of the [[1960 United States census|1960 Census]], Representative Ray was [[Redistricting in the United States|redistricted]] into the new {{ushr|NY|16|16th district}}. He chose to retire rather than seek reelection in the new constituency in 1962; that year, his seat was won by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[John M. Murphy (New York politician)|John Murphy]].
state=New York |

district=15 |
===Later life===
before=[[Emanuel Celler]]|
In retirement, Ray continued to live in Staten Island, where he died on May 21, 1975. He was cremated.
after=[[Hugh L. Carey]]|

years=1953&ndash;1963
==References==
⚫
}}
{{end box}}
{{reflist}}
⚫
{{CongBio|R000077}}
{{NYRepresentatives}}


{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 83rd-87th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[United States congressional delegations from New York|New York]]}}
{{NewYork-Representative-stub}}
{{USCongRep/NY/83}}
{{USCongRep/NY/84}}
{{USCongRep/NY/85}}
{{USCongRep/NY/86}}
{{USCongRep/NY/87}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Ray, John H.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ray, John H.}}
⚫
[[Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York]]
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:New York Republicans]]
[[Category:New York (state) lawyers]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota alumni]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
⚫
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:20th-century American legislators]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians]]

Latest revision as of 17:54, 25 August 2024

John H. Ray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 15th district
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1963
Preceded byJames J. Murphy (redistricting)
Succeeded byJohn M. Murphy (redistricting)
Personal details
Born
John Henry Ray

September 27, 1886
Mankato, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMay 21, 1975(1975-05-21) (aged 88)
Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma mater

John Henry Ray (September 27, 1886 – May 21, 1975) was an American lawyer, business executive, and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York as a member of the Republican Party. He served five terms in Congress representing the state's 15th district, which at the time encompassed parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

Ray was born in Mankato, Minnesota. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1908 and Harvard Law School in 1911, Ray practiced law and was an assistant trust officer for the Wells–Dickey Trust Company in Minneapolis.

He joined the U.S. Army during World War I, serving first as a first lieutenant in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, and then an assistant to the special representative of Secretary of War Newton D. Baker during post-war armistice discussions with Allied governments. In 1920, he was presented with the Order of the Crown of Italy for his work with the Italian government.[citation needed]

Professional career

[edit]

Ray moved to the New York City neighborhood of Dongan Hills in 1923[citation needed] and continued to practice law. In 1937, he became vice president and general counsel for Western Electric, and in 1942, he was promoted to vice president and general counsel of AT&T, a position he held until retiring in 1951.[citation needed]

Political career

[edit]

Representing New York, Ray was first elected to Congress in 1952 at the age of 66. He was reelected four times and served from January 3, 1953 until January 3, 1963 (the 83rd, 84th, 85th, 86th, and 87th Congresses). Ray voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1960,[2] but voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the 24th Amendment to the Constitution.[3][4] While in the House, his committee assignments included being appointed to the Merchant Marine and Judiciary Committees. He sought the establishment of tax-free pensions, and to give tax breaks to firms purchasing anti-pollution equipment. In addition, Ray served as legal advisor to then-Congressman Gerald Ford when Ford was a member of the Warren Commission.

Following the results of the 1960 Census, Representative Ray was redistricted into the new 16th district. He chose to retire rather than seek reelection in the new constituency in 1962; that year, his seat was won by Democrat John Murphy.

Later life

[edit]

In retirement, Ray continued to live in Staten Island, where he died on May 21, 1975. He was cremated.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ex‐Rep. John H. Ray, 88, Dies; A. T. & T. Aide Served 5 Terms". The New York Times. 23 May 1975. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  2. ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  3. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  4. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
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