Table of Contents (cont'd)

VII-Railroad (157-176)

1. Cinderpit Charlie
2. The Indianola Train Wreck
3. John Hubert's Account of the Train Wreck
4. The Repeater Station
5. The Roundhouse
6. Good Old Railroad Days

VIII-Flying (177-194)

1. Early Days of Flight
2. Ray's First Aeroplane
3. Dr. Willis' Wild Gypsy Moth
4. A Guardian Angel
5. Denver Flights
6. McCook First Plane Crash
7. Saving The Bomber From McCook

IX-Ray's Personal Memories (195-230)

1. The Escaped Murderers
2. The Robbery
3. Sports Memories
4. Electrifying Experiences
5. Apprehending the Robber
6. The Omaha Chief
7. Berthod Pass
8. Pranks
9. Trouble With Latin
10. Ghosts
11. The Fall River Flood
12. On Borrowed Time
13. The B Street Bombers

Ray Search Biography

    Ray was born in Wymore, NE in 1902. Ray's father, M.L. Search, was a railroader and had brought his family to Nebraska from Ohio. Later, in 1910, he followed the railroad to McCook,

where he continued with the railroad until a strike in the 1920's forced him to take other work.

    Ray has always been a man of strong interests.   From an early age he was drawn to powered flight, which at the time was in its infancy. Many of the stories Ray tells deal with flying, planes, and pilots. Electricity was another strong interest. At times in his life he used this interest to land jobs at the movie houses and the Temple Theater. He was a free lance electrician at one time, and wired many McCook houses after WW I. During a period in the 30's he served as City Inspector.

    Ray's consuming lifelong interest has been the theater. At age 13 he went to work for the old Electric Theater in the 100 block of Norris Ave. subsequently, he moved to the Temple theater, when its stage was the home of many traveling road shows, form Grand Opera to Vaudeville.  And finally, to the Fox Theater, a movie theater, and for a time a vaudeville theater. It was this theater which he managed until his retirement in 1971.  It is in this latter role that so many McCook residents and former residents remember Ray. Ray Search and The Fox Theater were synonymous for many years, through the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's.

    Ray has been blessed with a long life and a remarkable memory.  In an active life he has been involved with the business community, and the events in McCook for most of this past century. He has been a friend and confidant of the people who shaped McCook's future, as well as actors and entertainers who brightened the stage of the Temple and Fox Theaters. He is a gifted storyteller, and his stories constitute an important chapter in the history of our town.  It has been a distinct pleasure for me to bring these stories to you.                                        Back

                                 Walt Sehnert