Wednesday, July 3, 2019
In 2003 I first did a phone interview with Ray, I was moving from California to Tulsa, Ok and he pretty much hired me on the spot. I worked with Ray first from 2003-2007 then again from 2008-2012. I started as a 21 year old “kid.” He used to give me such a hard time....if I answered the phone “How can I help you?” He would stop dead in his tracks, wait until I was off the phone and explain why I should never use “can” in that sentence....he said of course you CAN! So you should say, How MAY I help you! Then if I would reply to a “thank you” with “not a problem” he again would stop dead in his tracks and say, “when you say that, you are insinuating they are a problem, so you should say...You are welcome!” And goodness when it came time to reconcile to business bank statement if I didn’t make the tick marks exactly how he wanted them or use the correct highlighter color, he would let me know about it. He was such a perfectionist when writing letters as well, so when it came time for me to draft one for him I knew he would bring it back with many corrections. I remember knowing he was coming down the hall towards my office because I could hear his whistle and change jingling in his pocket. I also remember when he invited me to go to with him as his Administrative Assistant to his business luncheon...I was very proud that he picked me out of all the other employees. As I got older I realized that he was hard on me because he cared. He took so much pride in his business and he was truly setting me up for success. I have to say that it’s because of Ray Fowler that I am the business person I am today! I have thought of him almost daily since I moved from Oklahoma and I was really hoping that I would be able to see him again when I came to visit. It saddens me that I won’t be able to see him anytime soon but I’m thankful that I will be seeing him in heaven. I bet that golf course is nice and green up there for you Ray. My thoughts and love go out to his beautiful wife Lana, his daughters, grandkids and everyone that loved him. Rest In Peace Ray! Love and miss you!
