The Legend of Ray Johnson - Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

In the last three parts of this story, I've introduced you to Ray Johnson, the inspiration for the fictional character, Ray Folsom, who plays a pivotal role in my two novels, The Blue Team and Wardrobe Of The Wolf.

Three years after meeting Ray at a prison in the Rocky Mountains, I moved out to Colorado. A few months after that, in December of 1991, Ray came and lived with me. Things were good for a few months, but then Ray started drinking again and his life soon spiraled out of control.

I wasn't sure how to help Ray, but he suggested a nearby detox facility. I dropped him there and the last thing I saw as I turned to leave was the big smile on his face. I was devastated.

Colorado State prison

It was a few months before I got another letter from Ray. He was back in prison. I

felt like I failed him. I eventually visited Ray in prison. He felt bad and so did I. I

was woefully unequipped to handle someone like Ray and Ray needed far more

help than I could give.

We had a few visits in prison after that, but it was never the

same. He got moved around from one facility to another and in 1995 I moved to

Idaho for a job. Ray often spoke of people in his life who, at one time or another,

had tried to help him but eventually gave up. I never wanted to be like those people

but somehow, we lost touch.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to find Ray and reconnect, I gave up. Then

several years later my former Athletes In Action coach, Sharm Scheuerman, got a

letter from Ray. Sharm lived in Denver and met Ray once or twice while we lived

in Boulder. Sharm was a good friend and mentor of mine, so Ray heard me talk of

him often. Sharm had played and coached basketball at the University of Iowa

back in the 50s and 60s and was still a legend in the state. Ray, who at some point

had moved to Iowa, sent a letter to the Iowa basketball office in the hopes they

would forward it to Sharm, who would then get it to me. Miraculously it worked.

The Iowa folks knew where Sharm lived and sent the letter to his Denver address.

Sharm then sent the letter to me in Idaho.

Letter from Ray

In the letter Ray said he’d turned his life around. He’d quit drinking, met a gal,

committed his life to the Lord and was doing well as a free and productive citizen.

And, after all these years, he wanted to reconnect. I cried tears of joy when I read

the letter and quickly sent a response to the address he provided. Tragically, it came

back. It was the wrong address. I tried to look up Ray in the Colorado prison

system to see if I could find any information on him but had no luck.

I still haven’t heard from Ray, and I doubt I ever will. When I last saw Ray, he was

about 50 years old. He’d be 81 by now and I’m not sure his liver would have lasted

that long. But I think about him often, especially when I write about the fictional

Ray Folsom.

The real Ray experienced very little success in life, yet as I write the third and final

book in the Thomas Conner Series I find I can’t help but give the fictional Ray

great wisdom and insight. Perhaps that comes from the years I’ve lived and

knowing with hardship comes great learning.

I used to hope that one day, after finding my book and reading it, Ray Johnson

would realize he’s Ray Folsom and he would reach out to me, and we’d reconnect. I

guess it’s still possible.

Me and Ray in Denver 1990

When you read The Blue Team and Wardrobe Of The Wolf and, once I’m done

writing it, East Of Ashton, I hope you can appreciate, enjoy, and learn from the

wonderful character that is Ray Folsom.

Write what you know. I know Ray Johnson and I were good friends. I know he led

a very difficult life. I hope he knows that I cared, and I still love him.