Randy Ray, Director of Broadcast Engineering at West Texas A&M University, spent more than 15 years in the Nashville, Tenn., broadcasting industry before returning to his alma mater as an instructor. “Students appreciate real-world experience,” said Ray, 47. “When I tell them it takes hard work and dedication, I’m speaking from that experience.”
Ray, a Pampa native, attended WTAMU – then West Texas State University – from 1980 to 1984. He graduated with a degree in radio and TV.
“When I was here as a student, one of the most important things I learned is that you’re only limited by the boundaries you set on yourself,” Ray said. “They encouraged me to dream big, and so I did.”
Ray moved to Nashville in 1987. He first worked as an audio and visual engineer, running equipment at events for musicians, speakers, and politicians. Ray ran into musicians Andy Denton and Billy Williams of Amarillo in the early 1990s. The trio, plus guitarist Michael Jacobs, formed Christian rock band Legend Seven. Ray, who played bass guitar, swapped his engineering job for a shot at rock-stardom. After the band broke up in 1994, Ray managed Sunset Studios, the largest sound stage and recording studio in the south at the time.
“I got to work with artists I had grown up listening to in the Panhandle of Texas,” he said.
Ray was asked to teach classes at nearby Middle Tennessee State University. He pursued his master’s degree while teaching there from 2000 to 2002. “I fell in love with the teaching aspect there,” he said.
When the opportunity to teach at WTAMU opened in 2003, Ray moved back to the Panhandle bringing his wife, Anita, daughter, Rachel, and son, Luke with him. Ray’s years in Nashville give him an edge at educating college broadcasting students.
“Randy’s experiences lend a lot to his teaching,” said A.J. Swope, a former WTAMU student. “He spent so many years in the industry, and he brings that to his classroom.”
“Ray’s experiences allow him to relate to students on a personal level,” said Alex Tomlin, a 2007 graduate. “The best thing about Randy Ray is that he is 100 percent there if you need him. He’s genuine, and he really invests in his students.”
Ray also used his knowledge of the recording industry to help design the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex. He outfitted the complex’s radio and television stations, audio suites and recording control room, and he’s been asked to equip the building’s high-definition studio.
In 2006, while Ray was designing and engineering the broadcast wing of the $32 million fine arts complex on the campus of WTAMU, he was also asked to design a video system for the athletic department. WTAMU now has a video production trailer that is used at the football stadium and the basketball arena. The system was designed for multi-purposing. Each game is broadccast on the university’s TV station, Radio station, and streamed on the Internet as well as on the venue video board. Ray also manages the student crew that operates the trailer.