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Ray Carmines '51: Still Competing

Ray Carmines, an enthusiastic Hokie dedicated to his community and Virginia Tech, enjoys many competitive activities in his retirement.

Ray Carmines entered Virginia Tech in 1944 in electrical engineering and later changed to mechanical engineering. He then discovered that his passion was sociology and graduated in 1951 with a degree in rural sociology.

After graduation, he worked at Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company as a design engineer for 12 years and was promoted to cost engineer where he enjoyed his career for 24 more years before retiring.

Carmines has contributed greatly to his community serving as a member of the Poquoson Planning Commission, Town Councilman, Vice Mayor of the Town of Poquoson, Chapter Chairman of York County and Poquoson American Red Cross, President of the Lions Club, President of the Virginia Citizens Planning Association, member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Citizens Planning Association, and President of the Peninsula Ski Club. He has also been recognized with the Lions Club "Melvin Jones Fellow" award for Humanitarian Service.

Over the past 10 years, Carmines has earned over 30 medals in figure skating and skiing. His love for skating began when his dad made him a set of skates out of wood when he was five years old. His true calling for figure skating didn't actually begin until the young age of 69. Ever since then he hasn't stopped, and won his first gold medal at 70 while continuing to enter many competitions from the ISI (Ice Skating Institute) to NASTAR (National Standard Race). NASTAR is the largest recreational ski and snowboard race program in the world. Their mission is to provide a fun, competitive and easily accessible racing program for racers of all ages and abilities. Carmines also continues to enjoy skiing in such places as Colorado and Vermont. His first slalom race was at Mount Snow in Vermont in 1965, and he has enjoyed the sport for many years since.

As if his passion for alpine skiing, figure skating, dancing, traveling to places such as Turkey, Egypt, China, and teaching skiing four days a week aren't enough... he makes time for his Alma Mater.

Carmines has been to every Tech bowl game except for one over the past 14 years, attended most home football games and most of the Alumni Association Summer Around the Drillfield programs and college homecomings, served as a member of the Virginia Tech National Campaign Committee for the new Alumni Center, as president of the Alumni Association Peninsula Chapter, as Class Chair of his 1951 Reunion, as president of the Old Guard, and as a member of the Ut Prosim Society.

Not only is he a Hokie, but he has three daughters and three grandchildren who have followed in his "Hokie tracks."

So, what is Carmines looking forward to for his 80th birthday? What else... skating! He says his daughters have planned a big skating party for him with family and friends to celebrate his birthday in April! He is an inspiration to fellow Hokies, family, friends and to everyone who knows him. He gives true meaning to the university motto, Ut Prosim, That I May Serve.