Ray Schleihs
Ray was born in Des Moines on April 6, 1917, but grew up in Johnston, IA. He graduated from Johnston High School in 1935 and attended Iowa State. He then worked for the Rock Island Railroad, starting a life-long involvement with railroads. Soon after he married the love of his life, Vivian Hockmuth, WWII was declared and Ray enlisted in the Army Air Corp becoming a B-17 bomber pilot stationed in England with the 390th squadron, 8th Air Force. He flew 35 missions receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Russian Commemorative Medal, among many others.
After the war, Ray and Vivian started their family moving from state to state to further his career as a successful sales rep for Hunt Spiller Manufacturing Co. His promotion to sales director allowed his family to move to Boston. They moved back to Johnston in 1964 and started his company, Beaver Valley Industries, manufacturing cushions for engines and cabooses.
He was a member of Johnston Lions Club for 45 years, Fruitland Brennan League, American Legion and VFW, and various Johnston city boards and committees. Ray was elected Johnston Citizen of the Year in 1993 and also to Johnston School Alumni Hall of Fame in 1994. He was one of the founding members and was actively involved in the 390th Memorial Museum, donating much of his memorabilia to the Tucson museum. He was on the founding committee of the Johnston Historical Society, the original committee for the WWII monument in Des Moines, as well as a founding supporter of the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. His WWII experiences were recounted in "Heroes Among Us" and also a PBS program.
He was also a founding member of the Johnston (Station) Historical Society.
Ray Schleihs Park provides open space and access to the Johnston Interurban Trail. The park is located on NW 55th Avenue, between Merle Hay Road and Beaver Drive. Formerly NW 55th Avenue Park. New playground equipment features a train theme as the park is located along the old interurban railroad route, which is now a recreational trail. There is also a picnic shelter at the park, along with a historical marker describing his life.
