Ed Ray (b. 1944), the fourteenth President of Oregon State University, has overseen both historic growth on campus and a major recalibration of university ambitions. Trained as an economist, Ray spent thirty-three years at Ohio State University, where he served as chair of the Economics department before moving into central administration, first as Chief Information Officer and later as Provost. Ray came to OSU in 2003 and set in motion a strategic planning process that realigned university structures and goals. He also launched OSU's first comprehensive capital campaign, The Campaign for OSU, which raised $1.142 billion and resulted in a busy period of campus construction as well as the endowment of seventy-nine faculty positions and the creation of over 600 scholarship and fellowship funds.

In this, the first of four interviews, Ray discusses his family background and provides a detailed description of his youth and upbringing in New York City, including recollections of a few important early influences during his childhood. From there he describes his educational experiences as an undergraduate at Queen's College, his involvement in multiple theatre productions during this time, and his decision to move across the country to pursue graduate studies in economics at Stanford University.

Amidst reflections on his research and teaching during the Stanford years, Ray also describes meeting his wife, Beth, and shares details of her background. He then recalls their move to Ohio State University, where he soon became chair of the Economics faculty. The session winds up with Ray's memories of Beth's activities during their three decades in Columbus, and concludes with a few thoughts on his love of long distance running.

Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen for inclusion in the Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Collection (OH 26), Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries.