Ray, Charles F. (Charles Francis), 1952-
Biographical note
Charles Francis Ray was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, in 1952. In 1974, he and Leslie Joan Cordell were married; they later had two children. Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and in 1976, the couple moved to Gordon Valley, Idaho, where Ray worked as a fire fighter for the U.S. Forest Service during the summers of 1976 and 1977. He then worked as a logger for the Boise Cascade timber company until 1981, when the family returned to Tennessee to care for Ray's grandparents. They moved back to Idaho in 1985, and in 1989, Ray became involved with the Friends of the Payette. Later, he also became a staff member for Idaho Rivers United.
Sources: Vital records in Ancestry.com; information provided by Ray in his interview; “As salmon die, a traveler plants seeds of rage,” by Cynthia Hunter, High Country News, October 17, 1994.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Oral history interview with Charles F. Ray
Oral history interview with Charles F. Ray, conducted by Clark Hansen in two sessions, on July 27 and July 28, 1999, as part of the Columbia River Dissenters Oral History Series. Ray speaks extensively about his work with Idaho Rivers United to advocate for the restoration of Snake River salmon and steelhead runs.