NeveHarms Ray White graduated from Woodruff High School in 1945. He was an All-Conference Guard in football and when his Navy career was over, he played football at Bradley under Coach A. J. Robertson.
Always active in sports, he volunteered and was the head scorekeeper at Bradley from 1955-1983. He also kept score for the Bradley women's basketball team from 1981-1988. Ray also kept score for the IBCA All Star games at Illinois State and Bradley. He was also responsible for the supersectional games at Robertson field house in 1979 and 1980. He also kept score for Peoria Central basketball games and also at the Pekin Holiday Tournament.
If there was a high school basketball game or football game, Ray was there in some capacity. His volunteering continued when he co-founded the Peoria Girls Sport League Softball and Basketball leagues, along with Carol May, last yearís Neve Harms winner.
He coached in Peoria Central's Little League program, and in 1993 Ray was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as a friend of basketball.
Every quality that Neve Harms had, was exemplified in Ray White's life.
Peoria and the sports world lost one of its finest when Ray was stricken with a fatal heart attack last Thanksgiving night. [written 1998]
Ray is survived by his wife Marge, daughters Patti, Julie, Mary, Annie, and son Mike.
Dick Jamieson Central High School graduate Dick Jamieson was not only one of Bradley University's top quarterbacks, but perhaps was also one of the most successful coaches to come from the Peoria area. Former offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Football Cardinals, Jamieson earlier held the same position at the University of Missouri and was head coach at Indiana State. |