Ray Davis marched with The Yellow Jackets for 5 years, playing bass drum, cymbals & marching in the Color Guard.   He has a Bachelors Degree from the Art Institute in Chicago and served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force.  He is retired from the Chicago Police Department as a Police Officer after 33 years.  Presently he is a self-employed locksmith (773.221.3522).

He and his wife Jessie have 6 grands, 3 girls & 3 boys and 1 great grandson and he still plays drums, trombone & guitar.  He is also a college and high school referee for basketball, volleyball and softball.

Ray's memories of the Corps were bitter-sweet.  He remembers the fun and good times but also he reflects on one of the sad times.  He says "We were the first Black Corps and we were playin in Kankakee, IL at a competition and the announcer introduced us as 'that great _______ Corps from Chicago' ... this made us play so much better and we came in 2nd place.  No matter how good we were, they never gave us enough points for 1st place."