Raymon Alan “Ray” York, former president and CEO of Ewing Outdoor Supply, Irrigation Association, past president and green industry leader, passed away on January 24, 2024, after a brief illness. He was 86.
York was born Aug. 4, 1937, in Wichita, Kansas, and grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho.
“Ray will be remembered as an innovative, ground-breaking businessman, an advocate for continual education and a leader in the green industry,” Ewing’s Veronica Biczo wrote in a post published after York’s passing. “He was passionate about his family, his extended family of employees and Ewing’s customers, and was known to personally scout new business opportunities in communities in need of a dedicated, reliable green industry distributor.”
In addition to his contributions to Ewing, York also served as president of the Irrigation Association in 1986 and was honored alongside his wife, Sue, who served as president of the Irrigation Association in 1998, with the association’s Industry Lifetime Achievement Award for their 50 years of contributions to the green industry.
“It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Ray York, a true pioneer and visionary in the green industry,” says Natasha Rankin, MBA, CAE, CEO of the Irrigation Association. “Ray’s dedication to sparking innovation in the company he founded with his wife, Sue, his expectations for excellence in himself and others, and his unwavering support for consistently growing the next generation of leaders within Ewing and throughout the industry, set a standard that we at the Irrigation Association deeply admire and strive to uphold. His commitment to fostering growth not only within his own company but throughout the industry has left an indelible mark that will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Ray is survived by his wife of 63 years, Susan “Sue” Ewing York; sons David (Julia), Douglas (Kelli) and Richard (Victoria) York; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and his sister, Marjorie Crosby.
