Introduction

     During the fall of 1998 I began a series of interviews with Ray Search, which have continued through the spring of 2000.     Ray and Walt.

     Ray was one of the first people our family met when we came to McCook in 1957.  At that time everyone still went to the movies, and Ray was very visible, as the genial host at the Fox Theater.  Everybody knew Ray, and he made it a point to know everyone.

     Later on, when we met at weekly Kiwanis Club meetings, Ray and I became friends.  He helped me to make Kiwanis a fun and interesting place to be on Thursdays, at noon.

     Our interview sessions have been conducted in Ray's cabin, over his dining room table, or during occasional drives in and around McCook.   The stories in this volume have been loosely grouped into categories, but there has been no attempt to put the articles into any sort of chronological order.  This is in no way a history of McCook during the years of Ray's life, which covers most of the 20th century.  Rather, the stories are recollections from one man's life.  I have attempted to bring you the stories in much the same way that Ray conveyed them to me--which is to say the way two friends react when they get together over a cup of coffee.   Something will be said to remind one of a particular incident in the past, and the conversation will begin.  The germ for the item of conversation may be a newspaper article, a radio news story, or just the musings of one man, who enjoys looking back over a long active life.

     Ray is a remarkable man.  He has ability, into his 90's,of reliving--in his mind--an era, or a journey, or an incident in his life.  His memory is outstanding, and he can recall events, people, places. and circumstances, which took place years ago, with unusual clarity.

    The visits have been very pleasurable for me.  I've come to appreciate the trials, and the triumphs of this man, in this city,over the past 97 years.

I hope that you will come away with the feeling that you, too, have had the opportunity to visit with Ray and share his stories.  I'm sorry that you have not had the chance to ask him questions of you own.

                                                                         Walt Sehnert