Ray Francis Hyson ^{3 4}

   FamilySearch ID: GQ97-Y98.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1940 in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD. ⁵ The 1940 census recorded owning a $3800 home at 1211 42nd Street: Stanley R. Hyson, clerical at water and power company, 47, living with with Nancy M., 41; and son Ray R. F. Hyson, 17. Everyone was born in Maryland.

2. Census in 1950 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. ⁶ The 1950 census recorded in apartment 7 at 1051 64th Street: Ray F. Hyson, claim adjuster for life & casualty company, 29, living with wife Velma F., keypunch operator in public electric company, 33. He was born in Maryland and she in Kansas.

3. Newspaper: San Bernardo County Sun: Cartoonist Ray F. Hyson, 13 Apr 1982, San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA. ¹ Headline: He draws the line on political foibles
(photo) Cartoonist Ray Hyson
CRESTLINE -- There's nothing like double-bypass heart surgery and disability retirement to set a man thinking about the future. Fortunately for Ray F. Hyson, whose health forced him to retire in 1980 after nearly 30 years as a railroad switchman, he was ready to turn a knack for drawing into a budding career as a cartoonist. "What's a guy to do when he's over 50, used to living pretty high on the hog and then pensioned off on a lot less income?" said Hyson, who has lived in Crestline since October. "One thing you learn is how it feels to be poor. And, you start to look at what's going on in politics, especially around Washington, D.C." With plenty of time on his hands, a sharply reduced family income and some drawing talent, Hyson began drawing political cartoons. "If I'm hot, I can do 10 to 20 a day," he said. "And there are all kinds of political goofs and caricatures for cartoon ideas . . . especially since Nixon, Carter and now Reagan." His interest in drawing dates back to his youth in Baltimore. "My dad was a commercial artist, and I wanted to be an artist, too," Hyson said. "But my folks sent me to military academy and during World War II I was in the Army." After military service, Hyson did construction work in Guam and Hawaii. It was in Hawaii during the mid-1940s that he met and married Velma Badger. In 1950 they settled in the San Bernardino area and Hyson went to work for the Santa Fe Railway as a switchman. Although he liked his work, Hyson was becoming more interested in drawing and he began to see humorous situations in trainmen's daily trials and tribulations. He turned them into cartoon sketches which found their way onto station bulletin boards. A story about his hobby appeared in a railroad publication. It told of the "High-Ballers," the title of a compilation of Hyson's best works dealing with; his then-favorite topic trainmen's foibles. , He published the 150-page booklet at his own expense and has sold most of the copies. Volume II of "High-Ballers" did even better. Every copy sold out. "They went all over the country. Some even, went to foreign countries," said Hyson. "Problem is the postage eats you alive now to mail copies anyplace." Nevertheless Hyson is working on Volume III, and another publication, "Peanuts and Jelly Beans," of course, dealing with political goofs. The cartoons feature mostly former Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan. "I got into political cartooning for several reasons." Hyson said. "It is easy drawing, there are so many political goof-ups and the presidents' caricatures are so simple to draw." He began with Nixon and the Watergate fiasco. "Nixon is the easist to draw, and he made so many mistakes," said Hyson. "But ever since the goofs have gotten worse and the presidents more inept." So far his success in finding a publisher for his political cartoons hasn't been inspiring. However, other works are seen weekly in the Rim of the World News which circulates in the mountains. They feature animal characters, mostly bears, and focus on mountain residents' problems, especially flatland visitors who disturb mountain living and ecology. Hyson said he developed his own drawing techniques and style. "I don't know if I'm good, fair or just passing," he said. "But I do my own thing, expressing my philosophy through cartoons. Maybe someday I'll make it in print."

Ray married Elía Gerovera Sanchez, daughter of Miguel Sánchez and Maria, on 22 Sep 1945 in Oficina, , Chih., MEX. (Elía Gerovera Sanchez was born about 1927.)

Ray next married Velma Faye Badger, daughter of George William Badger and Myrtle Gould, on 17 Jul 1948 in Honolulu, Honolulu, HI.^{1 2} (Velma Faye Badger was born on 16 May 1916 in Wichita, Sedgwick, KS,⁷ died on 13 Aug 2005 in San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA ⁷ and was buried in Riverside: Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, CA ⁷.)