Ardith Ray Martin

Wow, I have so many memories of Ray. Ray hired me to work at Datafilms 38 years ago and I spent the next 12 years trying my best to make him proud of taking a chance on me.

For some mystical reason, Ray took me under his wing, became my business mentor and instilled in me an entrepreneurial spirit that has stuck with me. I can never thank him enough for the impact he had on my professional life. But more importantly, we became good friends and that's what I treasure the most.

I'll always regret losing touch with Ray in his later years, but life has seasons and our paths simply didn't cross as much. My wife Lynnea and I did get to see him one last time just a few months ago - we finally told him we loved him and he said the same. Yep, grown men do indeed cry.

Ray was quite the dreamer and lived a long, memorable and adventurous life; I always dug that about him. To quote Hunter S. Thompson:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a ride!'"

What a ride indeed. Ray, please say hello to 'OBR' for me. We love you.
Farewell, boss!

Randy & Lynnea Wall