[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 22 (Thursday, February 26, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E250-E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          IN HONOR OF DON RAY

                                 ______
                                 

                   HON. CHARLES W. ``CHIP'' PICKERING

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2004

  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, next month, Don Ray, a great servant in 
Mississippi will be leaving his home and work in my district to serve a 
higher calling. We will miss him in the South, but the Lord has called 
him to a church in Michigan, and we are proud and excited he will be 
responding to this, the highest of callings.
  Don and Jeannie Ray have reared a wonderful and loving family: son 
Craig; daughter Jene with her husband Michael Barranco and their 
children Mia Julia and Michael; daughter Jerri with her husband Ralph 
Ross and their children Jennings and Graeme; daughter Julie; and son 
Kyle with his wife Hilmari and their children Baylor and Carly Marie. 
Five children and six grandchildren are fitting legacy for anyone, but 
Don has made an impact in many other ways: the Church, higher 
education, and the world of finance.
  Don has served as Vice President for Development at Belhaven College 
since November of 1999. Under his leadership, Belhaven has brought in 
multi-million dollar deals significantly increasing the vitality and 
stability of the

[[Page E251]]

campus, including funding a new student center. Alumni have been 
rejuvenated and their positive excitement has led to more and greater 
financial commitments to the institution. His direction created a 
vibrant and engaging Homecoming event that has Belhaven alumni eagerly 
anticipating their annual visit to Jackson, Mississippi.
  Belhaven College and Mississippi will miss Don and Jeannie Ray, but 
the First Congregational Church of Otsego, Michigan will benefit from 
his years of experience as a pastor and administrator. Before serving 
in development in higher Christian education including service at 
Belhaven College, Millsaps College, and Wheaton College, Don served at 
various churches as a youth pastor and senior pastor.
  Don excelled in his previous career of financial planner. He began 
with Connecticut General Life Insurance in 1964 as an estate planner 
and business analyst. He moved up the corporate ranks through 
Northwestern Life Insurance and A.G. Edwards & Sons. He was selected by 
``Money Magazine'' as one of the ``200 Best Financial Planners in 
America'' in 1987 and again in 1990. In 1991 he left Financial Review 
Services, where he served as president of the full services financial 
planning firm, to begin serving higher Christian education.
  For about 25 years, Don Ray has been a Certified Financial Planner 
and he has a total of 40 years in the financial and estate planning 
industry. He is a past president and chairman of the board of the 
Mississippi Chapter of the International Association of Financial 
Planning, has served as an adjunct faculty member of the College for 
Financial Planning, and has been a member of both the Registry for 
Practicing Financial Planners and the Institute for Certified Financial 
Planners. His training in finance has benefited the Kingdom through 
gifts to education, churches, and other organizations for many years. 
He has served on the boards of several Christian organizations 
including Pioneer Bible Translators, Wheaton Christian Academy High 
School, Windsor Park Manor Retirement Center, Marble Retreat for 
Clergy, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Board of Stewards 
at Galloway United Methodist Church. Don and Jeannie both have served 
long hours in ministries at Galloway in Jackson and that congregation 
will certainly miss their gifts and their spirit of servanthood.
  I know Belhaven College will be sad to see him go, though they, too, 
are excited about his new opportunity. I believe Belhaven President Dr. 
Roger Parrott described Don Ray's service best: ``Don was exactly what 
we needed for this season of Belhaven's growth. He has helped us 
broaden our base of support among our friends and alumni, crafted 
together major gifts that have catapulted us forward, and created a 
platform of professionalism among the team that will carry us forward. 
Please join us in praying for Don's ministry.''
  The motto of Belhaven College is ``to serve, not to be served.'' That 
phrase is the executive summary of Don Ray's life so far, and I believe 
will continue for many years to come. I hope Congress will join me and 
Belhaven College, a great Christian liberal arts college in my 
district, in saluting the service of Don Ray and wishing him the best 
in his return to the ministry.

                          ____________________