2019 Grand Marshal
Ray McDaniel
Ray was born in Union County and grew up in the High Valley area. He moved to Walla Walla, Washington in 1951 where he completed high school. Ray has worked in sawmills and the logging industry for most of his adult life and he also spent several years in Alaska working in construction. On returning to Union, he became self-employed as mechanic, welder, and fabricator. He began volunteering at the livestock show grounds in 1958 and his first job was digging post holes for the race track rail. Ray was president of EOLS first in 2002-2003. He then served as co-president along with all of the then living past presidents in the centennial year of 2007. In 2008, he was again elected president.
Ray, along with the now deceased Marvin Wigglesworth, was responsible for many of the electrical changes on grounds. His mission was to remove as much of the above ground wire system as possible and bury it underground for safety and to improve the looks of grounds. Ray began working on the on-site intercom phone system the same year the Knott Family Barn was built (2004). It has been his responsibility thereafter. Ray was the leading force in installing wire and donated televisions on site at the grounds in the race building, concession stand, beer booth, VIP building, and the infield buildings so volunteers could enjoy part of the races being broadcasted. In 2004 Ray designed and built the two camera towers on grounds to monitor races. He was able to build the towers for less than $3,000, compared to the cost to other tracks of $20,000 from contracted sources. Ray welded and fabricated the towers in a shop and helped move them to grounds where they are currently in use.
Whenever work sessions are taking place on grounds, you can find Ray there working, and in many cases, supervising the project. Ray has served on the EOLS budget committee and has helped with officer and board member nomination committees. He is currently a board member of the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Foundation and serves there proudly to ensure that the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show continues to serve the 4-H and FFA members of many Oregon counties and provide quality entertainment including a PRCA Rodeo and Xtreme Bull Riding events and Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing in Union, always the first full week in June. Ray certainly deserves to be our 2019 Grand Marshal.
Ray, along with the now deceased Marvin Wigglesworth, was responsible for many of the electrical changes on grounds. His mission was to remove as much of the above ground wire system as possible and bury it underground for safety and to improve the looks of grounds. Ray began working on the on-site intercom phone system the same year the Knott Family Barn was built (2004). It has been his responsibility thereafter. Ray was the leading force in installing wire and donated televisions on site at the grounds in the race building, concession stand, beer booth, VIP building, and the infield buildings so volunteers could enjoy part of the races being broadcasted. In 2004 Ray designed and built the two camera towers on grounds to monitor races. He was able to build the towers for less than $3,000, compared to the cost to other tracks of $20,000 from contracted sources. Ray welded and fabricated the towers in a shop and helped move them to grounds where they are currently in use.
Whenever work sessions are taking place on grounds, you can find Ray there working, and in many cases, supervising the project. Ray has served on the EOLS budget committee and has helped with officer and board member nomination committees. He is currently a board member of the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Foundation and serves there proudly to ensure that the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show continues to serve the 4-H and FFA members of many Oregon counties and provide quality entertainment including a PRCA Rodeo and Xtreme Bull Riding events and Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing in Union, always the first full week in June. Ray certainly deserves to be our 2019 Grand Marshal.
