IN MEMORIAM

Sammy Mehedy Ray

1919 – 2013

SammyRay, renowned oyster biologist, dedicated marine educator, and a founder of Texas A&MUniversity at Galveston died

on October 14, 2013 at the age of 94. Sammywas born on February 25, 1919 inMulberry, Kansas to a Syrian immigrant father anda French-Canadian mother. About a year after his birth his family moved to the Delta region of Mississippi, eventually settling inRosedale, Mississippi. By the time he was 9 years old he was putting food on the family table by hunting, fishing, and growing

vegetables —and later by selling peanuts and popcorn outside the town theater. While still in high school he was offered a job asa postal clerk at the enticing sum of $60 per month—good money in the depression era Delta. A family friend andWorks ProgressAdministration official convinced him to finish high school and offered him a job collecting and mounting birds for a local WPA

museum. After graduating from high school he enrolled in Sunflower Junior College. His stuffed bird collection attracted thecuriosity of the campus newspaper editor, Charlotte Parr, who later became his wife and lifelong companion. Sammy graduatedwith an associate�s degree from Sunflower Junior College in the spring of 1940. In the fall of 1940 he entered Louisiana StateUniversity. At LSU he worked under the direction of ornithologist George Lowery; there he refined his skills as a taxidermist and

made numerous contributions to the LSU Museum. He received his B.S. degree in 1942.In June 1942, he enlisted in the Navy as a pharmacist�s mate. DuringWorldWar II he saw intense action in the Pacific theater at

Peleliu and Okinawa, where he collected birds knocked to ground by artillery fire from both friend and foe. His standardmethod of

collecting birds, however, was to shoot them with his own guns that he carried in addition to his standard military-issue .30 calibercarbine. Later in life he referred to himself as themost armed non-combatant in the war.More than 200 specimens were shipped to theSmithsonian Museum, and are now part of its permanent collection of Pacific birds.

At the conclusion of the war, he intended to attend medical school. An offer of a fellowship funded by Gulf Oil, and theopportunity to attend Rice University and work with the parasitologist Asa Chandler, diverted him from medical school to oysterbiology. After World War II, exploration, drilling, and production of oil in the estuaries of Louisiana intensified greatly. Coincident

with this heightened activity was high levels of oystermortality, resulting in a lawsuit by oystermen against oil companies.Numerous oilcompanies combined efforts to fund a comprehensive study of the cause of the excessive mortalities of Louisiana oysters. The legacy ofthe effort was the discovery that the high mortalities were due not to oil industry activities, but to a previous undescribed parasite. JohnMackin,MalcolmOwen, andAlbert Collier described the parasite in a 1950 article in the journal Science, and named itDermocystidium

marinum. Ray soon thereafter developed a technique to easily identify and quantify it. The technique is referred to as Ray�s FluidThioglycollate Method, and is still widely used. He received his master�s degree in 1952 and his doctorate in 1954, both from Rice.

In addition to his well-known work with oyster diseases, Sammy made early and important contributions on the effects of

dissolved organics to oyster feeding, ‘‘red tides,’’ and the effects of marine toxins and petroleum products on marine organisms. Inthe latter part of his life, he founded the web site Oyster Sentinel to disseminate information on distribution and abundance of thedermo parasite, now calledPerkinsus marinus.Hebecame an advocate for the importance ofmaintaining adequate freshwater inflow

to estuaries to control oyster disease, maintain oyster populations, and support other estuarine species.Sammy mentored generations of students – graduate, undergraduate, high school, and elementary. He witnessed the retirement

of some of his former graduate students before his own, while introducing elementary students to marine science. He joined TexasA&M University in 1957 and later founded the first resident graduate and undergraduate teaching program at Galveston. One of

his proudest accomplishments, however, was the founding in 1986 of Sea Camp to foster in young students an interest in science.Over the years more than 1,600 students from 27 states and 6 countries attended. His diminutive size, grey beard, and trademark

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blue overalls earned him the nickname ‘‘Papa Smurf ’’ from his Sea Camp students. He embraced this moniker and used it to betterconnect to his young students.

Ray was instrumental in the emergence of Texas A&MUniversity at Galveston from its humble beginnings as a marine stationwithout classes or resident students. During his career he served as Director of the Galveston Marine Laboratory, Head of theDepartment of Marines Sciences, Dean of Moody College, and Interim President of TAMUG. He is rightly called a founder ofTAMUG, if not the father of the institution. He was selected for the Texas Academy of Science Distinguished Texas Scientist for

1986, National Shellfisheries Association Honored Life Member in 1992, the Texas Science Hall of Fame in 2002, and HarteHeroes Legends of the Gulf Award in 2010.

His beloved wife of 70 years, Charlotte Parr Ray, passed away just months after Sammy. He is survived by his four children:

Charles G. Ray, Dorothy Ray Cashell, Jackson C. Ray and Judy Ray Livesay, and 10 grandchildren.To his many friends and colleagues in the shellfish community, Sammy will be remembered not only for his extraordinary life

and significant scientific contributions, but for his indomitable spirit and vibrant personality.

THOMASM. SONIAT

Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of NewOrleans

NewOrleans, LA 70148

PUBLICATIONS OF SAMMY M. RAY

Collier, A. & S.M.Ray. 1948. An automatic proportioning apparatus for experimental study of the effects of chemical solutions on aquatic animals.

Science 107:576–577.

Collier, A., S. M. Ray & W. Magnitzky. 1950. A preliminary note on naturally occurring organic substances in sea water effecting the feeding of

oysters. Science 111:151–152.

Ray, S. M. 1952. A culture technique for the diagnosis of infection with Dermocystidium marinum Mackin, Owen, and Collier in oysters. Science

116:360–361.

Ray, S. M. 1953. Studies on the occurrence of Dermocystidium marinum in young oysters. Convention Addresses of the National Shellfisheries

Association. pp. 80–92.

Ray, S.M., J. G.Mackin & J. L. Boswell. 1953. Quantitativemeasurement of the effect on oysters of disease caused byDermocystidiummarinum. Bull.

Mar. Sci. 5:6–33.

Collier, A., S.M.Ray,W.Magnitzky& J.O. Bell. 1953. Effect of dissolved organic substances on oysters.U.S. FishWildl. Serv., Fish. Bull. 54:167–185.

Ray, S. M. 1954. Experimental studies on the transmission and pathogenicity of Dermocystidium marinum, a fungus parasite of oysters. J. Parasitol.

40:235.

Ray, S. M. 1954. Biological studies of Dermocystidium marinum, a fungus parasite of oysters. Rice Inst. Pamph. Spec. Issue. 114 pp.

Ray, S. M. & A. C. Chandler. 1955. Parasitological reviews: Dermocystidium marinum, a parasite of oysters. Exp. Parasitol. 4:172–200.

Mackin, J.G. & S. M. Ray. 1955. Studies on the effect of infection by Dermocystidium marinum on ciliary action in oysters (Crassostrea virginica),

Proc. Natl. Shellfish Assoc. 45:168–180.

Ray, S. M. & W. B. Wilson. 1957. Effects of unialgal and bacteria-free cultures of Gymnodinium brevis on fish and notes on related studies with

bacteria. Fish. Bull. 57:469–496.

Ray, S. M. &W. B. Wilson. 1957. The effects of unialgal and bacteria-free cultures of Gymnodinium brevis on fish and notes on related studies with

bacteria. Washington, D. C.: U.S. Department of Commerce-NOAA-NMFS. U. S. Fish Wildl. Serv. Spec. Sci. Rep. 50 pp.

Ray, S. M. 1964. Marine Fisheries of Texas. In: Proceedings of Governor�s Conference on Natural Resource Management and Development in

Texas. pp. 92–96.

Ray, S. M. & D. V. Aldrich. 1965. Gymnodinium breve: induction of shellfish poisoning in chicks. Science 148:1748–1749.

Ray, S. M. 1966. A review of the culture method for detectingDermocystidium marinum, with suggested modifications and precautions. Proc. Natl.

Shellfish. Assoc. 54:55–69.

Ray, S. M. 1966. Notes of the occurrence of Dermocystidium marinum in the Gulf of Mexico during 1961 and 1962. Proc. Natl. Shellfish. Assoc.

54:45–54.

Ray, S. M. 1966. Cycloheximide: inhibition of Dermocystidium marinum in laboratory stocks of oysters. Proc. Natl. Shellfish. Assoc. 56:31–36.

Ray, S. M. 1966. Effects of various antibiotics on the fungus Dermocystidium marinum in thioglycollate cultures of oyster tissues. J. Invertebr.

Pathol. 8:433–438.

Mackin, J.G.&S.M.Ray. 1966. The taxonomic relationships ofDermocystidiummarinumMackin,Owen, andCollier. J. Invertebr. Pathol. 8:544–545.

Ray, S. M. & D. V. Aldrich. 1967. Ecological interactions of toxic dinoflagellates and molluscs in the Gulf of Mexico. In: F. E. Russell & P. R.

Saunders, editors. Animal Toxins. New York, NY: Pergamon Press. pp. 75–83.

Aldrich, D. V., S. M. Ray & W. B. Wilson. 1967. Gonyaulax monilata: population growth and development of toxicity in cultures. J. Protozool.

14:636–639.

Spikes, J. J., S. M. Ray, D. V. Aldrich & J. B. Nash. 1968. Toxicity variations of Gymnodinium breve cultures. Toxicon. 5:171–174.

Ray, S. M. 1970. Current status of paralytic shellfish poisoning. In: Proc. 3rd Intl. Congr. of Food Sci. Technol. (S0S/70), Washington, D.C.

Ray, S. M. 1971. Paralytic shellfish poisoning: a status report. In: T. C. Cheng, editor. Curr. Top. Comp. Pathobiol. New York, NY: Academic

Press. pp. 171–200.

Trieff, N.M., N. Venkatasubramanian & S.M. Ray. 1972. Purification ofGymnodinium breve toxin – dry column chromatographic technique.Tex.

Rep. Biol. Med. 30:97–104.

Trieff, N. M., J. J. Spikes, S. M. Ray, & J. B. Nash. 1972. Isolation and purification of Gymnodinium breve toxin. In: A. deVries and E. Kochva,

editors. Toxins of Animals and Plant Origin. London: Gordon and Breach. pp. 557–571.

IN MEMORIAM: SAMMY M. RAY328

Vanderzant, C., C. A. Thompson & S. M. Ray. 1973. Microbial flora and level of Vibrio parahaemolyticus of oysters (Crassostrea virginica), water

and sediment from Galveston Bay. J. Milk Food Technol. 36:447–452.

Trieff, N. M., V. M. S. Ramanujam, M. Alam, S. M. Ray & J. E. Hudson. 1975. Isolation, physico-chemical, and toxicology characterization of

toxins fromGymnodinium breveDavis. In: V. R. LoCicero, editor. Proc.1st Intl. Conf. Toxic Dinoflagellate Blooms.Wakefield, MS.: Mass. Sci.

Technol. Found. pp. 309–321.

Wilson, W. B., S. M. Ray & D. V. Aldrich. 1975. Gymnodinium breve: population growth and development of toxicity in cultures. In: V. R.

LoCicero, editor. Proc.1st Intl. Conf. Toxic Dinoflagellate Blooms. Wakefield, MS.: Mass. Sci. Technol. Found. pp. 127–141.

Alam,M., N.M. Trieff, S.M. Ray& J. E. Hudson. 1975. Isolation and partial characterization of toxins from the dinoflagellateGymnodinium breve

Davis. J. Pharm. Sci. 64:865-867.

Gilmore, G. H., S.M. Ray&D. V. Aldrich. 1975. Growth andmortality of two groups of oysters (Crassostrea virginicaGmelin), maintained in cooling

water at an estuarine electric power generating station. College Station, Texas: Texas A & M University-Sea Grant College. 67 pp.

Wardle, W. J., S. M. Ray & A. S. Aldrich. 1975. Mortality of marine organisms associated with offshore summer blooms of the toxic

dinoflagellate Gonyaulax monilata Howell at Galveston Texas. In: V. R. LoCicero, editor, Proc.1st Intl. Conf. on Toxic Dinoflagellate

Blooms. pp. 257–263.

Thompson, C. A., C. Vanderzant & S. M. Ray. 1976. Relationship of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters, water, and sediment, and the

bacteriological and environmental indices. J. Food Sci. 41:117–122.

Thompson, C. A., C. Vanderzant & S. M. Ray. 1976. Serological and hemolytic characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from marine sources.

J. Food Sci. 41:204–205.

Ogle, J., S. M. Ray &W. J. Wardle. 1977. The effect of depth on survival and growth of oysters in suspension culture from petroleum platform off

the Texas coast. Gulf Res. Rep. 6:31–37.

Ogle, J., S.M.Ray&W. J.Wardle. 1977. A summary of oystermariculture utilizing an offshore petroleiumplatform in theGulf ofMexico. J.World

Aquacult. Soc. 8:447–455.

Ogle, J., S. M. Ray & W. J. Wardle. 1978. The feasibility of suspension culture of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) at a petroleum platform off the

Texas coast, Contrib. Mar. Sci. 21:63–76.

Alam, M. and K. H. Schram & S. M. Ray. 1978. 24-Dimethyldinosterol: An unusual sterol from the dinoflagellate, Gonyaulax diagenesis.

Tetrahedron Letters 38:3517–3518.

Alam, M., T. B. Sansing, E. L. Busby, D. R. Martiniz & S. M. Ray. 1979. Dinoflagellate sterols. I. Sterol composition of the dinoflagellates of

Gonyaulax species. Steroids. 33:197–203.

Alam M., G. E. Martin & S. M. Ray. 1979. Dinoflagellate sterols. 2. Isolation and structure of 4- methyl gorgostanol from the dinoflagellate

Glenodinium foliaceum. J. Org. Chem. 44:4466–4467.

Ray, S.M. &N.M. Trieff. 1980. Bioaccumulation of anthropogenic toxins in the ecosystem. In: N.M. Trieff, editor. Environment andHealth. Ann

Arbor, MI: Ann Arbor Science. pp. 93–120.

Rizzo, P. J., M. Jones & S. M. Ray. 1982. Isolation and properties of isolated nuclei from the Florida red tide dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve

(Davis). J. Protozool. 29:217–222.

Soniat, T. M., S. M. Ray & L. M. Jeffrey. 1984. Compounds of seston and possible available food for oysters in Galveston Bay, TX. Contrib. Mar.

Sci. 27:127–141.

Ray, S. M. 1984. Manual on marine toxins in bivalve molluscs and general consideration of shellfish sanitation. K. Rengarajan, editor. CMFRI

Special Publication 16. Cochin, India: Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. 104 pp.

Soniat, T.M.& S.M.Ray. 1985. Relationships between possible available food and the composition, condition, and reproductive state of oysters from

the Galveston Bay, Texas. Contrib. Mar. Sci. 28:109–121.

Ray, S. M. 1987. Salinity Requirements of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica. In: A. J. Mueller and G. A. Mathews, editors. Freshwater

inflow need of theMatagorda Bay Systemwith focus on penaeid shrimp. Springfield, VA.: U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAATech.Mem.

NMFS-SEFC-189. pp. E1–E28.

White, M. E., E. M. Powell, S. M. Ray & E. A. Wilson. 1987. Host to host transfer of Perkinsus marinus in oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

populations by the ectoparasite snail Boonea impressa (Pyramidellidae). J. Shellfish Res. 6:1–5.

Powell, E. N., M. E.White, E. A.Wilson& S.M. Ray. 1987. Small- scale spatial distributions of a Pyramidellid snail ectoparasite,Boonea impressa,

in relation to its oyster host, Crassostrea virginica, on oyster reefs. P.S.Z.N.I.: Marine Ecology, 8:107–130.

Powell, E. N., M. E. White, E. A. Wilson & S. M. Ray. 1987. Small-scale spatial distribution of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) on oyster reefs. Bull.

Mar. Sci. 41:835–855.

Powell, E. N., M. E. White, E. A. Wilson & S. M. Ray. 1987. Change in host preference with age in the ectoparasitic pyramidellid snail Boonea

impressa (Say). J. Moll. Stud. 53:285–286.

White, M. E., E. N. Powell, S. M. Ray, E. A. Wilson and C. E. Zastrow. 1988. Metabolic changes induced in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) by the

parasitism of Boonea impressa (Gastropoda: Pyramidellidae). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A 90:279–190.

Wilson, E. A., E. N. Powell & S. M. Ray. 1988. The effects of the ectoparasitic snail, Boonea impressa, on the growth and health of oysters,

(Crassostrea virginica) under field conditions. Fish. Bull. 86:553–566.

Andrews, J. D. & S. M. Ray. 1988. Management strategies to control the disease caused by Perkinsus marinus. Am. Fish. Soc. Spec. Pub. 18:257–

264.

WhiteM. E., E. N. Powell & S.M. Ray. 1988. Effect of parasitism by the pyramidellid gastropod Boonea impressa on the net productivity of oysters

(Crassostrea virginica). Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 26:359–377.

Wilson, E. A., M. E. White, E. N. Powell & S. M. Ray. 1988. Patch formation by the ectoparasitic snail Boonea impressa on its oyster host,

Crassostrea virginica. Veliger 31:101–110.

White, M. E., E. N. Powell, E. A. Wilson & S. M. Ray. 1989. The spatial distribution of Perkinsus marinus, a protozoan parasite, in relation to its

oyster host (Crassostrea virginica) and an ectoparasitic gastropod (Boonea impressa). J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. UK. 69, 703–717.

ChoiK. S., E.A.Wilson,D.H.Lewis, E.N. Powell &S.M.Ray. 1989. The energetic cost of Perkinsus marinus parasitism in oysters: quantification

of the thioglycollate method. J. Shellfish Res. 8:125–131.

Powell, E. N., E. E. Hofmann, J. M. Klinck & S. M. Ray. 1992. Modelling oyster populations. I. A commentary on filtration rate. Is faster always

better? J. Shellfish Res. 11:387–398.

IN MEMORIAM: SAMMY M. RAY 329

Powell, E. N., J. M. Klinck, E. E. Hofmann & S. M. Ray. 1994. Modeling oyster population. IV: rates of mortality, population crashes, and

management. Fish. Bull. 92:347–373.

Ray, S. M. 1996. Historical perspective on Perkinsus marinus disease of oysters in the Gulf of Mexico. J. Shellfish Res. 15:9–11.

Guo, L. D., B. J. Hunt, P. H. Santschi & S. M. Ray. 2001. Effect of dissolved organic matter on the uptake of trace metals by American oysters.

Environ. Sci. Technol. 35:885–893.

Rice, P., S. M. Ray, S. D. Painter & G. T. Nagle. 2002. Intrinsic membrane protein in oyster sperm stimulates spawning behavior in Crassostrea

virginica: implications for aquaculture. J. Shellfish Res. 21:715–718.

Guo, L. D., P. H. Santschi & S.M. Ray. 2002.Metal partitioning between colloidal and dissolved phases and its relation with bioavailability to

American oysters. Mar. Environ. Res. 54:49–64.

Haye, J. M., P. H. Santschi, K. A. Roberts & S. M. Ray. 2006. Protective role of alginic acid against metal uptake by American Oyster (Crassostrea

virginica). Environ. Chem. 3:172–183.

IN MEMORIAM: SAMMY M. RAY330