In approximately 1911, Albert Ray, a 22-year-old Pima Indian from Arizona, came to Sherman Institute (Now Sherman Indian High School), a boarding school built in Riverside in 1903.
From what can be found in available documents, Ray had little formal education and perhaps the opportunity to attend Sherman gave him a chance to learn to read and write or pick up a trade. Sherman was forming a cross country team at that time and maybe Ray was recruited for his running ability. However, what is undisputable is that coming to Sherman gave Ray a chance to run, and run he did, breaking records and making a name for himself, until World War I cut short his track career.
Ray was born in 1890 on the Salt River Pima –Maricopa Indian Reservation, east of Phoenix and north of Mesa, Arizona. Nothing is known of his childhood. At age 16 Ray was incarcerated in Arizona for two years for grand larceny. Those records indicate he was unable to read or write, presumably in English.
The first mention of Ray in Riverside was in May 1912. He was entered in the annual Pasadena – Los Angeles Marathon, which was a 12-mile race. He represented Sherman, which was making a name for itself for its skilled team of runners. Ray was considered a dark horse in the marathon, because he was known as an excellent sprinter, but had never before run distances in competition.
But the dark horse won the race handily, leaving former Olympians and other excellent runners as well as his Sherman teammates, far behind him. In reporting on the race, the Riverside Enterprise said Ray’s “Grit and endurance were simply remarkable.”
Ray continued to win races, including races staged in Riverside that seemed designed to show off the running skills of the Sherman team. In April 1913, he and his teammates were entered into the Los Angeles Times marathon, another 12-mile race. However, due to cost, it was unknown until the last minute if they would actually be at the race.
Finally, a Moreland truck was sent from Los Angeles to pick them up the morning of the marathon. The team arrived just before the race. However, the long tiring trip didn’t stop them and the top seven spots in the race were taken by the Sherman team. The winner of the race, by almost a minute, was Ray. The Los Angeles Times called Ray a “new Marathon star.” One of the White runners bested by Ray said, “That Ray is a wonder.”
After that race, the Enterprise said, “When the Olympic Games and marathon are run next year there will be seen among the crowd of runners a Pima Indian from Riverside who will probably take the lead from the first … and perhaps keep that same lead until he crosses the tape after the longest and best race of his career.”
The 1916 Olympics didn’t happen due to World War I. Instead of running in the Olympics, Ray joined the Army and by December 1916 he was part of the Arizona regiment stationed at Camp Kearney in San Diego County. At some point, Ray was shipped to France. An article in the Los Angeles Times in 1999 said Ray was killed in action. He may have died as late as early November. The war ended Nov. 11.
Sadly, we will never know just how great Ray’s running career could have been.
If you have an idea for a future Back in the Day column about a local historic person, place or event, contact Steve Lech and Kim Jarrell Johnson at backinthedaype@gmail.com.
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September 18, 2020
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Riverside’s Sherman Institute had a world-class runner in early 1900s - Press-Enterprise
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