Raymond Audley Wilson

Raymond Audley Wilson, Founder of Family Fitness Centers, passed away of natural causes peacefully at his home in Punta Mita, Mexico, on Monday, August 22, 2022, at the age of 94.
Born on February 19, 1928, in Spokane, Washington, Ray was the eldest son of 9 children. He, along with the rest of his family, labored as migrant farm workers during the Great Depression era. Attending school sporadically until the family settled in Salt Lake City, where he graduated from Granite High School. He later attended Phoenix Junior College, where he played on both the wrestling and football teams and studied business which helped form his desire to be an entrepreneur. His love of exercise first led him to become a professional wrestler and enabled him to support his family after his father died of a heart attack at an early age. He went on to launch a career that spanned almost 75 years in the health and fitness industry-earning him great respect as a legend and one of the founding fathers of the fitness industry-known for developing the Lifecycle and bringing the importance of cardiovascular exercise in the 1980s to the forefront, coining the phrase "cardio." Ray was also known for founding and operating more club chains than anyone else in the world, including but not limited to; American Health Studios, President's Health Clubs, Silhouette, European Health Spas, Figure Magic, California Fitness (Asia), and most recently at the age of 88, Ray Wilson Family Fitness Centers (Mexico). Wilson is perhaps best known for his chain of 76 Family Fitness Centers, founded in 1977, which later became 24 Hour Fitness. Ray was also the first to implement "dues" memberships instead of only long-term. He was easily the greatest serial entrepreneur the fitness industry has ever seen. It was Ray's goal in life to transfer his example, knowledge, and passion for fitness and "healthy living," thus improving people's lives. He had a passion for mentoring people that had been much like himself. They were driven but just needed to be guided and provided an opportunity. He was known for helping to launch numerous careers and turning them into multimillionaires, known as "Wilson-aires."
Ray loved his family deeply and was always dedicated to them. His wife of 56 years, Sonja Wilson, preceded him in death, as did his son Perry Wilson, grandchild Chance Wilson and several of Ray's siblings. He is survived by his children Sue McKinley, Ray Wilson Jr., Randi Wilson, Packy Wilson, Rhonda Yarro, and his sisters Lee Harbour and Sheila Wilson, in addition to his grandchildren and great-grandchild.
Per Ray's instructions, there will be a private ceremony to scatter his ashes at his desired location with his family.