Frank L. Ray, the alert and enterprising manager for Meriden of the Dutee W. Flint Ford agency, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, January 20, 1882, a son of Henry and May Ray, the former of whom survives, while the latter is deceased.

  In 1883, when our subject was only a year old, he was brought by his parents to Meriden and his education was obtained in the public schools here. He was for a time a student in the high school but did not complete the course there. He was first employed by the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company, holding the position of designer with that concern for three years. He went to New York city to join the army but was not accepted and returned to Meriden and went to work for M. W. Booth, the proprietor of a general store. He earned his employer’s approbation and was sent to Wallingford as manager for the branch store there. In addition to looking after the interests of that business he opened a bowling alley for the same firm and a restaurant, and at length purchased the restaurant, which he conducted for four years. He then sold that property and for three years was in the employ of the Wallingford Drug Company. At the end of that time he became a salesman for Dutee W. Flint, the agent for the Ford cars. After nine months he was promoted to manager of the Meriden branch and has since had charge of the business at this point. There are sixteen employes in the garage and two salesmen and everything for Ford cars is handled, but nothing else. The plant is equipped with the latest labor-saving power machinery and everything about the place is kept scrupulously clean, which adds greatly to its attractiveness. Every part of the Ford car is kept in stock and three large rooms are devoted to the storing of the stock on hand. One large room is given over to tools and the rule is rigidly enforced that everything must be kept in its proper place. That Mr. Ray is the right man for the place is indicated in the fact that he has sold three times as many cars as all the other agents in Meriden combined.

  Mr. Ray supports the republican party at the polls but has never been desirous of holding office. Fraternally he belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men at Wallingford, the Royal Arcanum, and along social lines he is connected with the Colonial Club of Meriden. He holds membership in St. Andrew’s Protestant Episcopal church and is a generous contributor to its support. Since starting out to earn his own living as a boy in his teens he has steadily advanced and his friends predict for him continued success in the future.