BIOGRAPHY
Ray is the epitome of one who has never met a stranger! His patience and professorial characteristics allow each and every student to learn both new skills and an appreciation for the outdoors.
He was raised in the foothills of South Carolina spending much of his time in the wilderness hunting, fishing, or just roughing it. Ray moved to Dallas after living in Charlotte and then Little Rock in order to advance his professional career. He once again looked to the peacefulness of the outdoors to step away from the daily rat race of city life. To connect with nature and survive on that which God provides keeps Ray both grounded and optimistic.
Given this, Ray was the first individual to complete all classes making him the first instructor to come from TSS. His knowledge, experience, and teaching ability will provide incomparable lessons to those wanting to survive on the land. Ray has hundreds of hours in both modern and primitive survival skills. He excels in fire and primitive trap building. In addition to this, he is a licensed HAM operator, volunteers for the North Texas CART (Child Abduction Response Team) and EastTex CERT. He currently holds certifications in the following:
Wilderness First Aid from the Emergency Care & Safety Institute / American College Of Emergency Physicians
Certified Instructor of Adult & Pediatric CPR & AED for the American Red Cross
Certified Instructor of Wilderness and Remote First Aid for the American Red Cross
Certified Hiking Guide with American Hiking Guide Association by Northeast Mountain Guide
Certified Instructor for Civilian Responce To Active Shooter Events by Texas A&M
Certified Stop The Bleed Instructor
Leave No Trace Certified
Tread Lightly Certified For Outdoor Ethics & Stewardship
Additionally Ray has numerous FEMA based certifications in the following:
- Emergency Planning
- Leadership and Influence
- Preparing For Mass Casualty Incidents
- Protecting Your Home Or Business From Disaster
- Effective Communication
- Decision Making & Problem Solving
- Intro To Individual Assistance
- Mass Care / Emergency Assistance
- Community Preparedness
- Active Shooter Response
- Workplace Security Awareness
- Active Shooter Prevention
- Basic CERT
- National Response Framework
- Incident Command Structure
- National Incident Management System
- ICS For Single Resource & Initial Action Incident
Above all else, Ray is a husband, a father, and a devout family man. Our students are quite often blessed with the opportunity to meet and engage with Ray's wife and son. If Ray isn't tending to work, family duties or TSS classes, you will most likely find him in the outdoors with his family.
