Taylor Ray

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Taylor Ray, right there in Fort Bend County. Now, picture a thirteen-year-old boy from Wabash, Indiana, in 1863 — born into the world, and already itching to leave it behind. That's Taylor Ray for you.

He left home at the age of thirteen to seek his fortune, and whatever that fortune turned out to be, it wasn't gold in a river or cattle on a drive. It was something quieter, and maybe more lasting. By 1890, Ray had married Mattie Newton, and together they'd raise seven children.

He was working as a railroad freight agent for the Wells Fargo Company, and in 1894, the company sent him on a temporary assignment to a place called Rosenberg, Texas. Temporary. That's a word that has a funny way of dissolving in Texas heat.

Taylor Ray stayed in Rosenberg for the rest of his life. Now, a lesser man might've just done his job, collected his wages, and kept his head down. Ray was not that man.

He became a charter member and deacon of the First Baptist Church. Charter member of the Masonic Lodge. When the devastating 1900 storm swept through and left local churches with nothing standing, Ray went to the railroad — his own employer, mind you — and persuaded them to let those churches use box cars until new buildings could be erected.

He turned freight cars into sanctuaries. You have to admire the nerve of that. And he wasn't finished.

Ray and others were instrumental in establishing the school district in 1898 and securing law and order in Rosenberg. He served on the Board of Aldermen from 1902 to 1910, then stepped up as mayor from 1910 to 1912, under the commission form of city government. All while serving as treasurer of the Rosenberg School Board from 1900 to 1910 — raising the funds that built the first schoolhouse and hired the first teacher.

In 1910, he became president of the school board. And he held that position for the next twenty-four years. Twenty-four years at the helm of a school district he helped build from the ground up.

Concerned with quality education for all, Ray started a Black school and led in the inclusion of women on the school board — decisions that weren't guaranteed to be popular, but he made them anyway. And just when you think the man had done enough, in 1920 he introduced an athletic program, and in 1923, he brought football to Rosenberg. Taylor Ray was born in 1863 and died in 1936.

Mattie Newton Ray lived on until 1951. Between them, they had seven children and a town that was better for the staying. A temporary assignment, they said.

Rosenberg had other plans.

What the marker says

(1863-1936) Born in Wabash, Indiana, Taylor Ray left home at the age of 13 to seek his fortune. In 1890 he married Mattie Newton (1871-1951) and they had seven children. As railroad freight agent for the Wells Fargo Co., in 1894, Ray was temporarily assigned to Rosenberg where he remained for the rest of his life. Ray was a charter member and deacon of the First Baptist Church and a charter member of the Masonic Lodge. After the devastating 1900 storm, Ray persuaded the railroad to let local churches use box cars until new buildings were erected. Ray and others were instrumental in establishing the school district in 1898 and securing law and order. Ray served on the Rosenberg Board of Aldermen, 1902-1910, and as mayor, 1910-1912, of the commission form of city government. As treasurer, 1900-1910, of the rosenberg School Board, Ray raised funds for the construction of the first schoolhouse and hiring of the first teacher. He became president of the school board in 1910 and held that position for the next 24 years. Concerned with quality education for all, Ray also started a black school and led in the inclusion of women on the school board. Ray introduced an athletic program in 1920 and football in 1923.