In Profile: Bank Executive Stan Ray Is An Ambassador for Agriculture
A career in agriculture has taken Stan Ray ('88, B.S., Agricultural Education) from humble roots in Robert Lee, Texas (pop. 1,150) to the halls of Congress in Washington, and later an executive boardroom for a multi-billion dollar financial institution in Austin. Today, Ray is chief administrative officer for Farm Credit Bank of Texas, based in Austin.
"From his positive impact on public policy, to his countless hours volunteering his time to help others, Stan's impact on American agriculture has not begun to be fully measured," said Drew DeBerry, deputy commissioner with the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Ray's leadership skills were honed while enrolled in Texas Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Of his several part-time jobs, Ray said the most meaningful was working in the CASNR dean's office as the director of the then new Ambassadors for Agriculture program. Part of his responsibilities included scheduling speaking engagements and recruiting students to serve as ambassadors.
Before graduation, Ray learned of a job opportunity in Washington as a legislative assistant for Congressman Charlie Stenholm, who represented a Texas district from 1979 to 2005. "Working for him was a highlight of my career," Ray said.
Ray's career in Washington began in 1989, starting in Stenholm's personal office. He later served as staff director for two different subcommittees of the House Agriculture Committee, overseeing U.S. Department of Agriculture and a variety of federal agriculture policies.
After six years in the hectic Washington arena, Ray and his wife Michelle wanted to return to Texas. In 1995, Ray joined Farm Credit Bank of Texas as vice president of legislative affairs. He later was named vice president of marketing and corporate relations.
The Farm Credit Bank of Texas is a cooperative wholesale bank serving the rural community through 17 retail-lending co-ops in Texas as well as New Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. In his current post as the bank's CAO, Ray oversees marketing, communications, event coordination, government relations and administrative services.
"One of the things I love about the Farm Credit System is that, as a cooperative, we give back to the agriculture industry we serve by returning our earnings to our borrowers "" the people who own us," Ray said.
Written by Laura Gutschke
CONTACT: Memory Bennett, Coordinator of Alumni Relations, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2802 or memory.bennett@ttu.edu
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