Just a lil talk with Jon Ray

Published | May 21, 2026

How did you get your start with the Valdese Recreation Department

I was basically just a kid going to baseball games at Children’s Park, and I saw someone doing the score I was like I can do that

I talked with Larry Hayes in 1992, and he said he got my information and would give me a call. The next night, he gave me a call when they were scheduled to have adult softball at McGalliard Falls when a scorekeeper called in.

We didn’t have the score tables that we have now, and I had to sit on the top bleacher to keep score.

It was about the experience for me because I enjoyed it that much. I would hang around the Valdese Rec all the time and got to know Mr. (Tim) Rhoney, who hired me.

Eventually, in 1996, he gave me a part-time job in concessions because Wes Brown worked concessions, and he said give Jon Ray my job (when he and 7 Miles went on tour with Third Day).

I love it there at the Valdese Rec, it’s my home!

memorable athletes that came through Valdese you kept score for

Danny Johnson, Freedom basketball player who went on to play at Clemson and College of Charleston. It was an AAU game, and he was phenomenal and just a lot of fun to watch.

Dale Jarrett’s grandson Zach Jarrett played in one of our baseball tournaments back in the day. I got Dale Jarrett to sign a baseball after the games and he put his arm around me and said I appreciate you man you done a good job.

I watched Tyler Shatley play all those years and I was just happy he got to sign with the Jaguars.

I kept score for a lot of the Draughn football players on the state semifinal team, I got to hang out with them a bit in the locker room before those playoff games.

memorable moments

I worked a lot of AAU basketball tournaments with Charlie Austin

We did a state baseball tournament in 2006 and I had to introduce people after working all day at the Valdese Rec. This kid hit a baseball into the trees and when he hit it I stood up and Tim Rhoney brought me a Gatorade and asked if I was still nervous I said No we’re ready let’s go

They had a dinner afterwards and they let me go first because they said I worked the hardest, all I did was watch baseball for 10 hours.

Me and Charlie did a basketball game for a team to go to Nationals at Disney World. We were given a referee shirt to wear because it was a state tournament game.

Listening to the Carolina Panthers 2004 playoff game at St Louis on the radio when working a basketball game at Tiger Gym