|
Ray Slone an educator
county treasurer, noted musician,
local housing project director and
civic volunteer, was
born in 1932 to his parents Harless and Dora
Johnson Slone.
Ray slone was a popular
and respected school teacher for
33 years. Although he is best
known as a math teacher at
Knott County Central High School, he
taught all grades
and subjects. He taught his first classes in
Wheelwright and
taught school three years in Ohio. He also has
taught college
classes. He was named Teacher of the Year in
1984, along with another teacher.
Ray's honesty and
efficient, hard work served the local
public well while he was
county treasurer for 18 years until
his retirement this year.
State local government finance
officers even copied four state use
forms that Ray designed
for Knott Financial reporting. Ray
worked for 11 years for the
Knott County Housing authority, which he
helped establish,
and served as executive director. He has
served as the
treasurer for the Hindman Baptist Church.
Ray Slone is best known
outside the county's boundaries
for his music. He has worked
with various Bluegrass and
traditional mountain music groups.
He headed the Slone
Family Band, which included his two
daughters. The band
performed at the Grand Ole Opry. He has
recorded several
musical albums, including two more recent
collections of
old time banjo tunes. Ray has shared his love
of music and
its history and traditions in seminars, music
festivals, and other gatherings. While teaching at the high
school, he sponsored
a music club and helped many young musicians.
He has
played benefit shows for most civic organizations. The
city
of Hazard showed their appreciation to Ray by presenting him the
keys to the city.
Ray and his wife Wevena
operated Ray's music store in
Hindman for several years. They
brought the first ice cream
shop franchise to the county with the Ice Cream Churn
being a part of the music store. The store
had an extensive
collection of Mountain music.
Persons nominating Ray
Slone noted his honesty, strong
moral character and easy-going nature as well as his love
of music, teaching and people.
Submitted by Corbett Mullins |
