Person of the Year 2014 - Ray Kub
Ray Kub grew up on the farm he still operates in rural Edmunds County. His electrical career started early when he got an amateur radio license while he was a freshman in high school. He graduated from Ipswich High School in 1964 and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology with a degree in electrical engineering in 1969. He was commissioned through the ROTC program at SDSM&T as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps. He spent 28 years on active duty and in the reserves and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1997.
Ray was first licensed as a Professional Engineer in 1976 and he spent 35 years as an engineer and manager with the Western Area Power Administration and Bureau of Reclamation. During his career he was the Bismarck District Manager and the Billings Area Regional Communications Engineer. He retired in 2004 and returned to the farm homesteaded by his grandparents where he has a cow-calf operation.
Ray has been a member of the SDEC state board of directors since 1999 and he was president of the board in 2005 and 2006. He is also the chapter representative for the Hub Chapter in Aberdeen. Other boards and organizations that Ray has been involved with are the Cleveland Township clerk/treasurer, Edmunds County Conservation District vice-chairman, Holy Cross School Foundation treasurer, J.W. Parmley Historical Home Society secretary-treasurer, Prairie Partners Master Gardeners, Knights of Columbus, and the American Legion.
In 1966 Ray married his wife, Candis, who passed away in 2008. They have four children and two grandchildren. As a hobby, Ray enjoys ham radio and other electronic and computer activities.