W. Raymond Colley

Ray served as Deputy Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1969 to 1995, which during that period managed legislative, financial, contracting, and administrative operations for the House. His 42 years of Federal Government service also included work as a legislative liaison in the Johnson administration while an assistant to two Postmasters General (Larry O’Brien and Marvin Watson), and as the Administrative Assistant to Congressman W. Pat Jennings from Virginia’s “Fighting Ninth” district in Southwestern Virginia (1955-1966). While working with Congressman Jennings, he took great pride in many successful efforts to further legislation and programs that assisted his native Appalachian region of Virginia.

Ray was elected a Vice Chair of the Virginia Democratic Party at its state convention in 1980 and served in that position for twenty years. In 2001, he was recognized by its State Central Committee as the “Father of the Virginia Democratic Party Plan,” having been responsible for rewriting the plan to achieve more open and inclusive participation. He was widely relied upon regarding the party’s delegate selection, procedural and rules matters. His other positions in the Democratic Party included membership on the Democratic National Committee and Chair of Virginia’s Eighth Congressional District Committee, as well as active roles in the Fairfax County and Mount Vernon District Committees.

Before moving to Northern Virginia 1955, Ray served as a staff writer for The Roanoke Times, reporting on government and politics. He enlisted in the Army during the Korean War and served two years, with subsequent service in the Army Reserves and eventual honorable discharge as a Captain.

Regularly active in the community, Ray served as President of the Waynewood Community Civic Association, Waynewood Elementary School PTA, and Fort Hunt High School PTA.

Born April 23, 1929 in Dickenson County, Virginia, Ray is the son of Granville J. and Bessie Owens Colley, and was raised in Breaks, Virginia. He attended high school in Grundy.

The first member of his family to attend college, he graduated from Berea College, Kentucky in 1951, where, like all students there, he worked through school, in his case as a bellhop and desk clerk at the school’s Boone Tavern Inn. He also edited the college newspaper and yearbook. He is a past president of the Washington Area Berea College Alumni club.

Ray died May 3, 2011 in Fairfax, Virginia following several years of affliction with Alzheimer’s. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, his college sweetheart, the former Alice Mildred Hook, two sons, Mark D. Colley, a partner with Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., and David R. Colley of Long Beach CA, a financial advisor with Waddell & Reed, as well as daughter-in-law Deborah Harsch and granddaughter Arden Colley, both of Alexandria.

Family and friends will gather for visitation on Tuesday, May 24th from 6-8 pm and a memorial service on Wednesday, May 25th at 10 am, both at the Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA. Burial will be at the Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, VA on May 25th at 2 pm.

Ray’s family suggests that contributions in his memory may be made to Berea College, CPO 2216, Berea, KY 40404, or to the Democratic Party of Virginia, 1710 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23223.