Raymond C. Meade

Raymond "Ray" C. Meade of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away from this life on October 10, 2023. Raymond was born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 9, 1943, to his loving parents, Paul W. and Madeline S. Meade. He was a faithful member of the Greater Christ Temple Church in Oklahoma City.
Ray began his career at his father's company, Paul W. Meade Insurance Agency, Inc. in 1961. He held his position at the agency for 62 years. Ray obtained his bachelor's degree in business from Central State University in 1966. Described as "eccentrically smart", Ray's intelligence, astute attention to detail, and creativity leant to one of the most successful advertising campaigns in Oklahoma history - the "Tall Paul" commercials that graced the airwaves on both radio and TV throughout the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s.
Along with Ken Colclasure and Ray's older brother Paul George Meade, Ray helped to create the Tall Paul commercials that originally aired in the 1970s. For the next three decades, the multi-panel series of commercials featuring the famous cartoon cowboy and memorable jingle became iconic, and business boomed for the Meade family. Ray was a pioneer in computer programming in the Oklahoma City area in the 1970s and 80s. The family-owned agency's success was partly because of Ray's extensive efforts to digitize business records and processes using the IBM System/34 and AS/400 mainframe computers.
Ray was a long-time fan of the football program at the University of Oklahoma. Over a 30-year period, he attended numerous home and away games, including the OU-Nebraska "Game of The Century" in 1971. Ray was also an unusually talented pianist whose passion for classical music included the works of Frédéric Chopin and Beethoven. More than anything, Ray tried, in his own unique way, to help those around him, especially his family and his customers. He was truly a one-of-a-kind person who will be deeply missed.
Ray is preceded in death by his father, Paul W. Meade, mother Madeline Meade, brother, Paul George Meade, and his beloved wife, Debra Meade.
Left to treasure his memory are three sons, Nicholas Raymond Meade and daughter-in-law Bobbi, Tyler Paul Meade and daughter-in-law Leigh, and Cody Mann Meade. Raymond is also survived by a host of loving extended family members and dear friends.
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