THOMAS WALTON
1961 Graduate
Nominated by: Jim Henderson ‘61

Thomas Walton is a 1961 graduate of Clay and is the retired Editor and Vice President of the Toledo Blade. He began his career at The Blade in 1965, after his graduation from Bowling Green State University. He spent several years as a reporter on the State Desk and City Desk before becoming Chief of The Blade’s Columbus Bureau in 1972.

In 1975 he was named assistant managing editor of the Peninsula Herald in Monteray, California, which was then a Block owned newspaper. During his 14 years in Monteray, he was appointed Managing Editor and later Editor. Tom returned to Toledo in 1988 to become Editor of The Blade. He was named Vice President of the company in 1995.

Tom hosted a weekly public affairs television show called the Editors for 19 years until his retirement in 2007. In retirement he has written a regular commentary column for The Blade, appearing every other Monday on the Pages of Opinion. His commentaries also can be heard every Monday afternoon during “All Things Considered” on WGTE FM-91 public radio in Toledo.

He received a number of awards for his writing from the Associated Press Society of Ohio, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, and Inland Press Association. His editorials on the local “Coingate” scandal were nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Tom lives in Bowling Green with his wife, Dianne. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. His passion is baseball and he still plays adult baseball every summer at the Ned Skeldon Stadium in Maumee.

RAY WALENDZAK
1959 Graduate
Nominated by: Dean ’86, Donald ’88 & Dennis ’90 Walendzak

Ray graduated from Clay High School in 1959 and was active in football, wrestling, and baseball. After graduation, he served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1996. He returned to Oregon and started his career with the Oregon fire department where he held the position of the first Assistant Fire Chief for five years and then promoted to Oregon Fire Chief for 20 years before retiring in 2007.

While serving as Fire Chief, he was appointed to serve on the State of Ohio Emergency Medical Service Board for 12 years. He helped to craft rules and regulations for the State of Ohio’s EMS professionals. In 1997, he was presented the Distinguished Service Award by the Ohio Fire Chiefs Association for his leadership and commitment to the fire service. In 2006, he received The State of Ohio Distinguished Fire Service Award.

Ray is the past president for the Northwest Ohio Volunteer Fireman’s Association , the Lucas County Fire Chief’s and served 22 years as secretary of Northwest Ohio Volunteer Fireman’s Association. As Chief, Ray worked with Local businesses (BP/Sun/Toledo Edison/Davis Besse) to design and build a state of the art fire and safety training facility that is used by groups and businesses throughout the region to provide real world disaster and fire training.

He served 12 years as a member of the Oregon Board of Education and volunteered 15 years as assistant varsity football coach under Ted Federici. Ray was former president of the CHS Athletic Boosters Club and received the Super Booster Awards in 1979.

Ray organized volunteers to upgrade and refurbish the locker rooms and training facilities at the Clay Veterans Memorial Stadium. He continues to be a member of the Oregonian Club, Toledo Swiss and Christ Dunberger American Legion Post 537 as well as residing in Oregon and Sun City Center, Florida.