Alum donates red oak to replace iconic campus landmark

RELEASED: November 29, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—Centre community members gathered on Wednesday for a little history in the making on campus: the planting of a young red oak tree behind Sutcliffe Athletic Center. This red oak replaces the nearly two-century old red oak that stood along the edge of the football field until it had to be cut down because the aging limbs and trunk had become a safety hazard.

The original red oak well may have been part of Centre's campus before the College came into existence. In fact, legend has it that when the first trustees in 1819 surveyed the land Centre now occupies, they took shade under the oak.

The tree was generously given to the College by David Ray '59 and his family, many of whom have ties to the College.

Ray, a football player while at the College, graduated from Centre and spent 31 years in the United States Secret Service. Ray's impressive career protecting presidents, vice presidents and their families was recently featured in an article in Shelby County Life, a magazine serving the Louisville-area. Click here for the article.

Ray, who is currently executive director and inspector general for the Kentucky Transportation Department, began his career with the Protective Service Division during the Nixon presidency in 1969, according to the article. During his career, he was been in charge of security for Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt. Another aspect of his job was to investigate counterfeiting, computer fraud and identity theft.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

For news archives go to http://www.centre.edu/web/news/newsarchive.html.