Ray Edwin Maddux

“My good times outnumbered the bad, so I had a great life.” This goes along with Ray’s epitaph, “Remember the good times.” This is the way he looked at his balance sheet. If the bottom line was a plus, then press on. Never stand on the sidelines! Play the hand you are dealt and learn to live with it. Live life to the fullest, so when you have to leave, there will be no regrets.

Ray lived his life by the simple code expressed in his epitaph. He had tremendous insight into life and human nature and always tried to turn the bad into good.

“I was born”

Ray was born on August 12, 1933 to Alice Lake and George Everett Maddux in Laverne, Oklahoma, a small town in the panhandle. He was proud of his Grandpa Lake, who built about 25% of the house in Laverne. Ray’s father moved his family from Laverne to Bentonville, Arkansas in 1936 where he farmed to survive the depression. Ray’s dad was a deacon at Mason Valley Baptist Church, a country church in the wildwoods of the Ozarks. At that church, Ray accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and continued to be a follower and believer all of his life.

In 1942, the family moved to St. John, Kansas, where his father went to work for the Atlantic Richfield Oil Co.

“I Lived”

Ray embodied an attitude and skill for the physical and mental aspects of life. In junior high, he found his first love – playing football, left back, and averaged 12 points per game. The family moved to Clafin, Kansas in 1947. Ray was the first freshman to start six games and earned a letter. He was ranked as one of the top 10 backs in central Kansas and received all state honors. In spite of severely injuring both knees, he still lettered in several major sports, setting a school record. He was offered seven football scholarships.

Ray’s injuries forced him make a decision to pursue coaching, versus playing. He attended Kansas State University and majored in Physical Education and excelled in his studies, while serving as President of the Phi Epsilon Kappa, a professional fraternity and receiving a gold key for his service. He was enrolled in ROTC and upon graduation received his 2nd Lt. Commission.

The Air Force allowed him to coach for one year before entering full time service. Ray served in a dual capacity as a Navigator/Bombardier. He served his four year commitment in Japan and Korea. On Friday, the 13th, 1963 while on a routine bombing mission, off the coast of Korea, his B-57 went in to a flat spin. The crew ejected into the Yellow Sea, 200 miles west of Seoul, Korea. This incident was the same thing that happened to “Maverick and Goose” in the movie Top Gun. Ray and his pilot were the first to survive a bail out from an inverted flat spin from a B-57. The back injury Ray incurred affected him the rest of his life.

The financial benefits as his rank as a Captain in the Air Force on flying status, influenced Ray to pursue a career in the Air Force versus a coaching career. He became a Grid Navigation

Instructor at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. While in California at lunch one day in 1966, he walked by a Taco Bell restaurant, where people were lined up for two city blocks. He listened to people talking about how good the food was, he ordered all $0.99 cent items and liked them. He fell in love with Mexican food while stationed in Texas. The rest is history, and he used his life savings and all the loans he could get and bought the franchise rights for Taco Bell in Austin, Texas. Ray resigned his commission the Air Force and opened his first store in 1967 in Austin and three more in 1968. By 1982, he had 30 stores located in Austin and Central Texas. Taco Bell was purchased by Pepsi Cola and the business model changed from the six items made from scratch. Due to these changes that Ray didn’t embrace, he decided to sell the franchise.

During his 20 years in the restaurant business he served on the board of the directors for the Texas Restaurant Association. Ray was very proud of training his employees, stressing they were not in the fast food business, but in the people business. He stressed to them that they only have a two minute window to impress a customer in such a way that they would want to come back. He also encouraged his employees to hone in on communication skills and their smile.

By 1987 Ray left the restaurant business to focus on other endeavors. He became a real estate developer. His projects included Manor Commercial Park and other investments. He purchased a small ranch in Elgin, got into the cattle business and also had race horses. Ray loved working with his cattle and racing quarter horses in Ruidoso, New Mexico and Manor Downs.

“I Loved”

Without a doubt, most of all, he loved his Patty Ruth. They were married on April 25, 1972. Together they travelled to see Kentucky Derbies, All American Futurities, Super Bowls and their favorite, Texas-OU football games. Many of these trips were shared with dear, longtime friends: Stella and Clarence Guerrero, Doris and James Schumann and Charlene Easterbrook and Walter Allen.

“I Left”

Ray is survived by his dear wife, Patty Ruth, stepson Chris Walker from Idaho, his step-grandchildren, Tracy Walker McCameron, and her husband Daniel McCameron and great-grandchildren, Caleb, Kacey, Matthew, Lucas and Miranda from Austin and Bryan Walker, wife Katie and great-grandchildren, Cole and Brielle from California. He was also survived by these fine people he considered his “adopted children” Patty Hamm and her family, Austin, Texas. Charlene Easterbrook, Charles “Bert” Lockwood, Thomas Guerrero of Austin,” Archie” Archambault, and Jerry Guinn (deceased) of the Temple area; and several special nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Alice and Everett Maddux, Brother Glenn Everett Maddux and stepson Robert Walker. Ray was also preceded in death by his beloved sisters,

Nina Maddux, Joy Reid and her husband Delbert “Bill” Reid and all of Patty Ruth’s dear sisters and brothers, who all left an incredible life time legacy.

He said to be sure to say “Goodbye” to all of his friends on Red Town Road that shared a hearty wave and a friendly smile with him for some many years!

Ray wrote this obituary in 2010, Tracy found it at the house when looking for pictures for the service. What an incredible gift to find this obituary written in Ray’s words. Patty Hamm – edited and updated his obituary with some new information and tried to keep everything in the essence of Ray’s words. Ray had a great life and we are incredibly grateful we were able to honor his wishes and care for him at home until he went to heaven. Patty Ruth is in assisted living at Brookdale in Westlake here in Austin.

We are incredibly grateful for the care Liz, Ray’s caregiver for the last several years and for Hipolito and Lori that have been instrumental in caring for the house and the property, and caring for Ray.

In lieu of flowers, Ray would appreciate donations made to your favorite animal rescue/shelter.