Ramblin' Ray named Dist. 94's distinguished alum
Ray Stejskal, aka Ramblin' Ray Stevens on his US99.5-FM radio show, has been selected as the 2015 Community High School District 94 Distinguished Alumni Award winner.
A graduate of the West Chicago's high school Class of 1982, Stejskal demonstrates the character and contributions to society that embody the spirit of the award.
He was surprised with the news of the award on the air during his Lisa Dent & Ramblin' Ray radio show. Stejskal has been part of the morning show at WUSN Chicago for the past 23 years.
He has been nominated for just about every major award in the radio business, including several Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music broadcast awards. He won the CMA major market personality of the year in 2010, and his morning show with Dent has won the Country Radio Broadcasters' Major Market talent award multiple times. This year, the pair won the Academy of Country Music Personality of the Year award.
The Distinguished Alumni Award was designed to inspire current West Chicago Community High School students to dream and achieve their goals, and to highlight alumni who demonstrate strength of character and service to humanity that goes beyond the boundary of career.
While Stejskal's accomplishments as a professional radio host are great, he uses his celebrity status to raise money each year for charities such as St. Jude Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Pink Ribbon Riders for breast cancer research, to name a few.
His giving spirit started early as he and his twin sister hosted neighborhood parties as children to benefit Ronald McDonald Charities.
As Stejskal stated in his blog in 2013, “Simply put. When my time is done at US99.5 and in my radio career I will look back at the things that mattered most. This one thing that will matter most will be how we helped Chicago's charities and St. Jude.”
Stejskal also hosts a national weekly radio program to honor those in the military called “Serving Your Country.” As a result, the Marines bestowed their highest civilian honor on him, the “Semper Fi” award for his work on behalf of our troops both at home and abroad.
“I'm very proud of Serving Your Country,” Stejskal said. “It's our way of saying thanks to those who give. Without the dedication and service of our men and women in uniform, we'd be lost. If you can take a little time each week to do something to thank the folks who provide our freedom, that's huge.”
Stejskal is proud of his roots and proud to be a West Chicago alumnus. He mentions West Chicago Community High School and the community of West Chicago frequently on his radio show. He will meet students and staff in the fall, visiting classrooms and talking with students.
An evening event to honor him will be announced in August; community members, friends and alumni, along with staff and students, will be invited to attend.