Board of Education Building to be Named in Honor of Ernest Ray

The DeKalb County Board of Education is paying tribute to a former educator and Superintendent of Schools by naming a building in his honor.
During Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting, the school board voted to name the Board of Education Building on the public square in honor of Ernest Ray.
Mr. Ray, now retired, served as an educator and principal in the school system for many years. He was principal at Smithville Elementary School, DeKalb Middle School, and DCHS before being elected as Superintendent of Schools in 1994. Ray was the last elected superintendent in DeKalb County before a new state law went into effect requiring all future superintendents or directors of schools to be appointed by the school board. When his term ended, Ray chose not to seek another term by appointment.
“We have a gentleman that everyone in this county knows. I had him as a teacher. He was a classroom teacher and later principal. Its our proposal to name this building whether it be in the form of a plaque or renaming the building (that would be determined later) but to name it in honor of Mr. Ernest Ray. This man has probably touched everyone’s life in this county in one way or another and always in a positive way. I’m proud we can do this,”said Board Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III.
Board members voting in favor were Danny Parkerson, Jerry Wayne Johnson, Kate Miller, W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, and Shaun Tubbs. Board members Jim Beshearse and Doug Stephens were absent.
Parkerson asked if lettering could be placed on the building with Mr. Ray’s name “Could be get Patrick (Cripps) to investigate what it would cost to do it on a larger scale so that when people go by they see Mr. Ray’s name up there,” said Parkerson.
The board plans to follow through on Parkerson’s suggestion.