Miss Ray King

Born July 13, 1888 Deceased January 24, 1979

Ray King's interest in learning and in seeking the worthwhile things in life had their origin in childhood and the stimulation of a happy home. Miss King was the third child born to Joseph and Anna King in Pilot Point, Texas. A much beloved aunt insisted on caller her Ray, and her parents added the aunt's name, Holden. She had two sisters and a brother, who died in infancy. 

After she graduated from Pilot Point High School, Ray King entered North Texas State Normal School in Denton, where her sister Sue was a senior. In order that the girls might live at home while they attended school, the family moved to Denton. It was at the Normal School that Miss King met Annie Webb Blanton and formed a lasting friendship with her. Miss King spent many of her summers studying at the University of Colorado, Texas Christian University and the University of California in Berkeley, where she earned her B.A. degree. She received recognition for her scholarly attainments by being elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Kappa Alpha, a woman's honorary society in history. For the next four summers she studied to obtain her M.A. degree at Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City.

After one year's teaching experience in Gordon, Texas, and another in Mineral Wells, she moved with her family to Fort Worth. In Fort Worth Ray King first taught fifth and sixth grades, and then began teaching history to junior high school students. When Central High School was enlarged, she taught history there and eventually was named chairman of the history department, a position she held until her retirement in 1954.

The day The Delta Kappa Gamma Society held its first initiation ceremony, the Founders elected Ray King treasurer. Her duties involved looking after the expenditures and recipes for both Alpha State Organization and the national Society. She also enthusiastically assisted with her the expansion of the Society. She and her sister Sue established Delta Chapter in Fort Worth on October 29, 1929, and Beta Phi Chapter in Tarrant County, Texas, in February 1936. Miss King advanced the program of work by participating in national committees, including the Permanent Fund (1930-1933), Auditing (1931-1934), Achievement Award (1932-1935), Initiation (1930-1933), Legislation (1936-1938), and Equal Opportunities for Women Teachers (1938-1942). During the 1954-1956 biennium she represented the Founders on the Administrative Board.

Miss King loved to travel and toured throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. She found personal joy in meeting new people and learning new information to enliven her history classes. She also enriched her life with her hobbies of needlepoint, hooking rugs and cooking. She was active in professional and civic organizations such as the American Association of University Women, the Retired Teachers Association, the Women's Club, the Fort Worth Civic Music Association and the Symphony Orchestra.

Ray King passed away on January 24, 1979, in Fort Worth. Members of the Society's Fiftieth Anniversary Committee were meeting in Dallas at the time of Miss King's death and were able to attend the services.