Published: March 30, 2009 11:40 pm         

Ringwood superintendent dies

Ringwood Public Schools has lost a vital part of its staff.

Ringwood Superintendent Ray Johnson, who was 58, died Saturday of a massive heart attack, according to Fairview Funeral Home.

Ringwood Board of Education President John Regier said Johnson was liked by faculty and students.

“They called him Mr. J,” he said. “He was well-liked by the kids.”

Johnson began his job as Ringwood superintendent in 2000 and accomplished many things during his time there.

A new gym was built in Ringwood and a new elementary school is under construction.

“Both of those were bond issues that were passed overwhelmingly by the community,” Regier said.

Johnson also helped the school acquire a new football field house, a new softball field and a new agriculture farm.

“He was just a wonderful man,” said Steve Hoffsommer, Kremlin superintendent. “He had everybody’s best interest at heart.”

Hoffsommer worked with Johnson when Johnson was the principal at Wakita and also worked with him at Ringwood.

“I learned a lot from him,” Hoffsommer said. “He was a wonderful guy.”

Aside from getting bond issues passed, Johnson also helped Ringwood raise test scores and was involved in helping Spanish-speaking students learn English, Regier said.

“He wasn’t just a hired guy,” Regier said. “He had the interest of this community at heart.”

“People just really responded to him,” Hoffsommer said. “People trusted him. He was just one of the finest guys that ever lived. He just had that good old Oklahoma common sense.”

Johnson is survived by his wife, Barbara Dawn; one daughter, Angie Gallagher of Philadelphia; one son, Dustin Ray Johnson of Moore; his mother; two sisters; and two grandchildren.

His funeral will be 10 a.m. today in Ringwood High School gymnasium. School is canceled today.

“Ray was a really good friend of mine,” Hoffsommer said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s in heaven. He’s experiencing some really awesome stuff right now.”