Ray Crowley
Columbia, Missouri

1997 Caller / Cuer Hall of Fame

Ray and Doris Crowley have been square dancing since graduating from the Huffs and Puffs Club in 1960. Ray enjoyed dancing so much that in 1962, he took up calling as a hobby and since then he has called in seven states.

There have been a variety of clubs in the Mid-Missouri area that Ray has been club caller for including Jeans and Queens, Star Prommenaders, Paddle Wheelers, Yellow Rockers, Dudes and Dames, and Callaway Calicoes. He has also been very involved in the governmental aspects of square dancing and has held a variety of offices. In the Missouri State Federation, Ray was chosen as Secretary in 1967 and First Vice President in 1971. In the Northeast District, he served as President along with being 1969-70 delegate to the State. In addition to these offices, the Crowleys are members of the Mid Missouri Callers Association. Ray was chairman of this organization in 1976, Secretary-Treasurer in 1977-78 and has served as Treasurer, consecutively since 1979.

Through the years Ray has called for every state dance except two since 1962 and has served as sound chairman for seven state festivals. He is a member of Callerlab and presently calls for the Star Reachers in Centralia.

In addition to calling mainstream dancing, Ray also enjoys teaching plus and advanced dancing.

Ray has always had a great interest in music. For enjoyment he plays the organ along with collecting horse drawn vehicles and antique cars.

He and Doris have been married 41 years. Their family includes, 2 sons, 1 daughter and 2 grandsons.