Lanier Township near Gratis in Preble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Paul Edwin Ray

1938 - 2012

— Hall of Honor —

Paul Edwin Ray Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

1. Paul Edwin Ray Marker

Inscription. Preble County Champion, Ray served the county in multiple roles: 16-year county commisioner, overseeing construction of the former children's home, fine arts center, jail, and jobs and family services building; Pork Festival leader; New Paris Chamber of Commerce leader and co-founder of the Medical Development Corporation of NP; Rotarian, veteran, Mason, and St. Clair Foundation board member.

He was a skilled woodworker, gardener, photographer, artist, and trumpeter.

Inducted into the Hall of Honor September 26, 2020

As recorders of Preble County history, PCHS and The Register-Herald are natural partners in co-sponsoring the Hall of Honor

Erected 2020 by Preble County Historical Society - The Register-Herald. (Marker Number 43.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is September 26, 2020.

Location. 39° 39.495′ N, 84° 32.848′ W. Marker is near Gratis, Ohio, in Preble County. It is in Lanier Township. It is at the intersection of Swartsel Road and Ohio Route 122, on the right when traveling south on Swartsel Road.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7693 Swartsel Road, Eaton OH 45320, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Chester "Chet" (1908-1970) & Mary Palmer Wagner (1913-1985) (here, next to this marker); Phyllis Ashman Campbell "Mamma Jazz" (here, next to this marker); Jo Ann (1927-2010) & William E. Lange (1925-2012) (here, next to this marker); Cornelius Van Ausdal (here, next to this marker); Irene Hardy (here, next to this marker); Dorothy Kiracofe (here, next to this marker); Billy J. "Bill" Sewert (here, next to this marker); William Bruce (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gratis.

Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025

2. Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor

Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.