Former Gov. Robert Ray has accomplished more than most people could hope to in several lifetimes.

He has moved gracefully from one leadership role to another, from a private law practice to five terms as governor, mayor of Des Moines and president of Drake University to chief executive of two major insurance companies to leading numerous community and statewide projects. He has been chair of the National Governors Association and a U.S. representative to the United Nations.

“I never had a job I didn’t like,” Ray said. “And I never had a job I planned to have. So I’ve had a very fortunate life. I’ve had opportunities that very few people have had, and it’s been exciting.”

Ray, who turned 75 on Sept. 26, jokes that it seems as if he’s had about 10 birthdays this year, with the numerous celebrations held in his honor. He recently reflected on his accomplishments in an interview with the Business Record.

While Iowa as a state has moved ahead technologically and reduced its dependence on agriculture, the past 20 years have marked a regrettable loss in neighborliness, he said.

“We can send a letter in less than a second, and yet I’m not sure our morals and values have increased, certainly not proportionately,” he said. “If anything, just the opposite. We don’t enjoy the neighborliness we did 20, 25 years ago.”

Shaping the character of people while they’re still young is an issue that Ray is particularly passionate about. He chairs Character Counts! The Institute for Character Development, which is an outgrowth of a committee he headed for then-Gov. Terry Branstad during Iowa’s sesquicentennial in 1996.

“We were trying to find a legacy that would be beyond just a monument,” Ray said. “We thought that people don’t grow up with much respect for one another, that they’re not particularly mannerly.”

The program focuses on the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. It’s now used in more than 400 schools across Iowa.

“Young people find how much happier their lives are when they’re helping somebody, rather than hurting sombody,” Ray said. “This is very exciting, and truly I think it’s making a difference and will continue to grow.”

As a young man, Ray was unsure about what he wanted to do in life. He joined the military at age 17, and was sent to Japan to replace combat troops returning from World War II. After returning to Iowa, Ray worked odd jobs, including meatcutter and newspaper district manager, while going to Drake University.

“I went into law, not knowing what else to do,” he said. “I loved it; I loved practicing law. If you’ve got a competitive spirit at all you’ve got to love being a lawyer, because you give it all to win for your client.”

Ray, who left office as governor 20 years ago, recalled how he thrived on leading the state.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to serve and to truly make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

“I used to tell staff, ‘I’m going to listen to every argument, on every side of the issue. I’ll talk to anybody. I’ll take as much time as I need to make the decision. And once I make the decision, I can defend it, because I’ll know what the arguments are. And it may not be perfect, but it will be the best in my judgment. And if I make a mistake, I’ll correct it as quickly as possible.'”

Following his 14 years as governor, Ray served as president and chief executive of Life Investors Inc., which is now part of AEGON N.V. He later returned to Des Moines to become president and chief executive of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa.  After retiring from Blue Cross, he was asked to serve as interim mayor of Des Moines.     “I used to say while I was in office, ‘I understand my kind of politics; just keep me out of local politics and church politics.’ Well, then I found out why.”

Is Iowa better off as a state than it was 20 years ago?

“I would say yes. It’s always easy to think, well it must have been better in the good old days. It wasn’t. Look at the air we breathe. We’re so critical that it’s still not good enough, but look how much better it is than when we were burning coal for heat.”

As for the direction Iowa is now taking, Ray said he believes the Grow Iowa Values Fund is a good move for the state.

“We have to be competitive, and I felt this was one way to do that,” he said. “We need good businesses, and most businesses like to locate where there are good workers with good values who are hard-working. I think we have a lot to offer right in the central part of the country, with a workforce that is stable. And if they’re treated decently they respond more than decently.”

What about consolidating Polk County and Des Moines city government?

“It can work,” he said. “I always think of Dick Lugar and Indianapolis when it happened there. It could be beneficial and cut costs, and we could be a community instead of sparring in and out of boundary lines.”

“I’m hopeful that people will take it seriously and look at the advantages,” he added. “Iowans don’t step up quickly to move dramatically forward. Sometimes you have to push pretty hard to get something accomplished. … But once you get there, they’re very appreciative people.”

What’s next for him?

“I don’t go looking,” he said. “I respond. I’m busier, frankly, than I would like to be.”

  RAY’S HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS HAVE LEFT A LASTING LEGACY  

One of his Robert Ray’s greatest legacies as governor was his effort to make the state a haven for Asian refugees, saving thousands of lives. Last week, plans were unveiled for the Robert D. Ray Asian Garden, to be built across the Des Moines River from the new Iowa Events Center, to honor his efforts and the thousands of lives he touched.

Ray’s example in public service is a great one, said former Gov. Terry Branstad, who is co-chairing the project with G. David Hurd, emeritus chairman of Principal Financial Group Inc.

“One of the hallmarks of Bob Ray is he always has something positive to say about people,” Branstad said. “He always holds people up.”

Kim Poam, who came to Iowa from a refugee camp in Thailand when she was 10, said, “A lot of us have come to see him as the father of the Asian community here.”

When she and her family initially arrived in Iowa, they had no idea who had led the call to action that led to the churches sponsoring them. It wasn’t until three years ago that Poam learned about what Ray had done, she said.

“Now we’re at a point where we can give back to the state that did so much to welcome us,” said Poam, who heads the Iowa Asian Alliance.

REFLECTIONS ON RAY

“I was inspired by him from the start,” said G. David Hurd, emeritus chairman of Principal Financial Group Inc., who has known Robert Ray since the 1950s. “He’s an even-tempered individual who’s able to look at the bigger picture. More of us should emulate him.”

“He’s a great man,” said Bob Dee, former president of Holmes Murphy & Associates Inc. “He has a knack for bringing people together and getting solutions.”   

“He’s an excellent man,” said Dick White, retired general manager of John Deere Works. “He’s paid his dues. He’s good for the state and to some extent, the nation.”