Richard Ray of Treasure Hunter detectors?

I'm hoping one of you may know something about Richard Ray who was a treasure hunter and speed-panning champion many years ago.  I met him in 1985 when he lived in Alvin, Texas (by Houston) and owned his own metal detecting company which produced the Treasure Hunter brand of detectors.  Before making my first gold-panning trip to California, my friends and I travelled to Alvin and visited with Richard at his shop there.  He gave us free lessons on how to "speed-pan" for gold.  Later, I bought a detector from his company and it was one of the finest detectors I've ever owned.  I was thinking about the speed-panning lessons the other day and am wondering what ever happened to Richard as I never got a chance to show him the gold I found over the next many years using his panning methods and to thank him.
Thanks,
~Texas Jay

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Texas Jay:
    Thanks for the compliment. I won the international gold panning championship and my oldest daughter (Seldon Ray) won the women's division, using the "speed method". I went to California and won the Nationals and trained a friend who also won the National. I've not seen anybody use that method since.
    Thanks again, brings back good memories.
       Richard Byrd Ray

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