There’s a gap in the Herald newsroom that will never be filled, no matter who takes the position. That gap is left by Ray G. Schwartz, who started working for the paper in the old, of Herald building near the gas company in 1948. There are many quotes we remember by Schwartzy, such as, “Smile when you call me Raymond.” and “I m an Irishman hy Jewish consent,”but I think we will remember most his smile, no matter what the circumstances. What most people outside of the Herald personnel don’t kmw is that Schwartz was a hardworker who never made any fuss about it. He never. abso utely never, comglained about anything. and e had a lot more things to complain about than most people do. Ray retired Oct. Z9, in the formal sense, and his colleagues at the Herald honored him with toasts and roasts. He will be working parttime on hockey and baseball stories, and whatever else “sporty” that interests him. Ray came here from the midwest. where he had been graduated from the University of Missouri School of Joumalism, one of the finest journalism schools in the nation. I don’t know if he thought his destiny was in the West, but it certainly turned out tu be. This was where he worked, this was where he married and this was where he joined the LDS Church lin that order l He and his late wife. Elayne Christensen Schwartz. have done more for the handicapped in Utah County than anyone else I know ot. Their marriage was a very happy one, Ray admitting to only one fight in their 30 or so years of matrimony. They had three sons. all of whom grew into responsible manhood, When Elayne died two years ago, Ray acccepted it as he has alother trag ies. He came back to work without much looking back, and eventually- adjusted to being a single again, Another tragedy hit Ray just this year when his oldest son. Kevin, died, leaving a beautiful widow and two adorable grandchildren. Many years ago. then Daily Herald Editor N.L, Christensen said that Hay was one oi the hardest-working employees in the Herald newsroom. He was so quiet that even most of his coworkers didn’t realize the tremendous amount of work he got done each day. However. when Ray did start talking about himself and his family. he was very frank about things, I don’! believe he ever told a lie, no matter what the circumstances, When Ray was sports editor. he wore flashy sports shirts. but when he moved to the copy editor position, his clothes became more conservative. I think, however. that his shirts were what inspired Merrill Martin to call him. “Schwartz with the polka-dot shorts.” These were not the only nicknames he had. Elayne called him “Tiger” and “Slugger.” and when he took up hockey-viewing, he grew so excited that he was cal ed ”0le Blood and Guts Schwartz,” I was going to talk a little about Hay’s life since he becamea swinging single, many times dating two, or even three, girls at one time, but on second thought, I think I won’t mention it at all. I hope that this doesn’t sound more like a funeral oration than a retirement story. but we in the newsroom are happy to tell Ray we think he’s a great guy and we love him,