Philip A. Ray Explained

Office2:U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce
Term Start2:1959
Term End2:1961
President2:Dwight D. Eisenhower
Predecessor2:W. Walter Williams
Successor2:Edward Gudeman
Birth Name:Philip Alexander Ray
Birth Date:27 May 1911
Birth Place:Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Death Place:San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma Mater:Stanford University
Party:Republican
Parents:William Wallace Ray
Leda Rawlins Ray
Relations:Joseph Lafayette Rawlins (grandfather)

Philip Alexander Ray (May 27, 1911 – July 15, 1970) was an American lawyer and author who served as the Under Secretary of Commerce under President Eisenhower.

Early life

Ray was born, and raised, in Salt Lake City on May 27, 1911 where his father practiced law. He was a son of William Wallace Ray (1880–1957) and Leda (née Rawlins) Ray (1880–1957), and had two brothers, Joseph and William Ray, and a sister, Julia Hills Richland. His maternal grandfather was Joseph Lafayette Rawlins, a United States senator from Utah who had previously served as a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah Territory's at-large congressional district.[1]

He was educated at Stanford University and served in U.S. Navy Intelligence during World War II.

Career

From 1954 to 1956, Ray served as general counsel of the Department of Commerce,[2] [3] before he was appointed Under Secretary under Sinclair Weeks in 1959.[4] He served until President John F. Kennedy took office in January 1961 and he was succeeded by Edward Gudeman.[5] After serving in government, Ray relocated to San Francisco where he practiced corporate law as a partner in Kelso, Cotton, Seligan and Ray with Louis O. Kelso.[6]

Ray was also deeply interested in Latin American affairs, and gave lectures on the subject and wrote a book, entitled South Wind Red: Our Hemispheric Crisis, originally published in 1962.[7]

Personal life

After a short illness, he died in San Francisco, California on July 15, 1970. He was survived by his widow, Denece,[8] and was buried at Targhee Cemetery in Fremont County, Idaho.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: SENATOR ELECTED IN UTAH.; Ex-Congressman Joseph L. Rawlins Chosen -- Had 32 Votes to Thatcher's 29. . 20 June 2020 . . 4 February 1897.
  2. Book: I.C.C. Practitioners' Journal . 1955 . Association of Interstate Commerce Commission Practitioners. . 423 . 20 June 2020 . en.
  3. News: San Franciscan Named For a Commerce Post . 20 June 2020 . . 15 August 1959.
  4. News: COMMERCE AIDE BACKED; Philip Ray Is Confirmed as the Under Secretary . 20 June 2020 . . 28 August 1959.
  5. News: Senators Approve Williams for Post . 19 June 2020 . . 31 January 1961.
  6. News: Narvaez . Alfonso A. . Louis O. Kelso, Who Advocated Worker-Capitalism, Is Dead at 77 . 20 June 2020 . . 21 February 1991.
  7. Book: Ray . Philip A. . South Wind Red: Our Hemispheric Crisis . 2013 . Literary Licensing, LLC . 978-1-4940-5903-3 . 20 June 2020 . en.
  8. Web site: Sundry Nominations: Hearings Before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 86th Congress, First and Second Sessions on Nominations for Civil Aeronautics Board, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Coast Guard, Commerce, Federal Aviation Agency, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Maritime Board, Federal Power Commission, Federal Trade Commission and Interstate Commerce Commission. February 25, 1959 Through May 25, 1960. 1961.
  9. News: Philip A. Ray, 58, Ex‐Commerce Aide . 20 June 2020 . . 16 July 1970.