Ray joined us at Tidal Basin 3Ks for many years and ran many other races. He was a reliable volunteer at many races, effective and efficient at packet pick-up, always quick with a quip.

FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT RAY

1. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring in September 1985.

2. He served on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Hamner (DD 718) as a DK2 (supplyman), November 1968 - April 1972, for three tours of the Western Pacific.

3. He served the U.S. Navy frigate USS Whipple (FF 1062) as a DK1, July 1974 - March 1978, and described it as the best sea tour of his career.

4. He was hospitalized after a car crash two days before the 2002 Pennsylvania Avenue Mile. He told attending physicians he could spend only one night in the hospital becuase he had to get out to run the Pennsylvania Avenue Mile race that Saturday.

5. He often wore his navy boat service hats to races, e.g., DD 718 and FF 1062.

Our Tidal Basin 3K on Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at 12 noon, Ohio Drive at West Basin Drive, was a Memorial Race for Ray Blue. Walt Washburn brought a big photo of himself with Bill Osburn and Ray, and many of us wore blue in Ray's honor.