Ray Mabus
Encyclopedia
Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. (born October 11, 1948) is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy
. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S. state
of Mississippi
from 1988 to 1992 and as United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1994 to 1996.
and is a fourth-generation Mississippian; he grew up in Ackerman
, the only child of the owner of the local hardware store. After attending public schools, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi
, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
, with a B.A.
in English
and political science
. He earned an M.A.
in political science from Johns Hopkins University
and a Juris Doctor
, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School
. He also served two years in the Navy as a surface warfare officer from 1970 to 1972 aboard the cruiser , and worked as a law clerk in the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
, he returned to Mississippi to work in the governor's office, where the youthful staff– which included Mabus, Dick Molpus
, John Henegan and Andy Mullins– earned the nickname "Boys of Spring" from a rival state legislator.
businessman Jack Reed
in the gubernatorial election by 53% to 47%, becoming the youngest governor in the nation at the time. Mabus, who ran on the slogan "Mississippi Will Never Be Last Again," was billed as "the face of the New South
," much like his counterpart in Arkansas at the time, Bill Clinton
. Mabus was featured in a 1988 New York Times Magazine cover story titled "The Yuppies of Mississippi; How They Took Over the Statehouse" which chronicled his challenges and successes.
During his time as governor, he passed B.E.S.T. (Better Education for Success Tomorrow), gave teachers the largest pay raise in the nation; and was named one of Fortune Magazine’s ten "education governors". Mississippi also had record growth in new jobs, investment, tourism and exports.
Because of the gubernatorial succession amendment ratified in 1987, Mabus was eligible to become the first governor to serve two successive terms in more than 100 years, and he ran for reelection in 1991. He was narrowly defeated in the general election by Republican Kirk Fordice
.
to be the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and served from 1994 to 1996. During his tenure, a 1994 border crisis involving Yemen
was defused, a 1994 crisis with Iraq was deterred, presided over the embassy during the 1995 terrorist attack , child abduction cases
were addressed, and contracts worth more than $16 billion were signed between Saudi Arabian and American companies such as Boeing
, and AT&T
.
Mabus' residence
and embassy office in Riyadh
were decorated with items of interest from his home state including an Ackerman phone book on his office coffee table and the Mississippi flag next to the American flag.
, the world's largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of industrial batteries. From 2006-April 2007, he was Chairman and CEO of Foamex International and helped lead it out of bankruptcy
. Less than nine months after his appointment, Foamex emerged from Chapter 11.
. In April 2010 a furor arose when it was reported that Mabus made the controversial proposal to name a United States Navy warship
after the late Pennsylvania Democrat, John Murtha
. Secretary Mabus has a presence on Facebook and frequently comments about his daily activities. This is the first case of a branch secretary maintaining a web presence.
President Obama has asked him to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible. The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservationists and other Gulf residents".
in Atlanta, the National Wildlife Federation
Conservation Achievement Award, the King Abdul Aziz Award from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Mississippi Association of Educators’ Friend of Education Award.
He is active in many community activities, primarily focusing on education. Following Hurricane Katrina
, he founded the Help and Hope Foundation, which works to meet the needs of children affected by the storm.
He is a former member of the RAND
Center for Middle East Public Policy and the Council on Foreign Relations
, and is the Distinguished Lecturer on the Middle East at the University of Mississippi.
As a photographer, his photographs have raised tens of thousands of dollars for various Mississippi charities.
He has appeared on many television programs as an expert on the Middle East, including “60 Minutes
” and “Nightline.”
In 1998, Mabus secretly tape recorded conversations he had with his then-wife Julie and a mutual friend (a priest) in attempts to resolve marital difficulties. The conversations provided a basis for Mabus to obtain sole legal custody of the children from that marriage. Julie (now Hines) filed suit against the reverend, his church, and the diocese. The case was the focus of media attention for issues raised relating to privacy rights in the context of churches. Mabus's actions in the incident were legal and he was not named in the suit.
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
from 1988 to 1992 and as United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1994 to 1996.
Early life
Mabus was born in StarkvilleStarkville, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,869 people, 9,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 851.4 people per square mile . There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile...
and is a fourth-generation Mississippian; he grew up in Ackerman
Ackerman, Mississippi
Ackerman is a town in Choctaw County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,696 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Choctaw County.It is named for an early landowner.-Geography:Ackerman is located at ....
, the only child of the owner of the local hardware store. After attending public schools, he graduated summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
, with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He earned an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in political science from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He also served two years in the Navy as a surface warfare officer from 1970 to 1972 aboard the cruiser , and worked as a law clerk in the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Political career
Mabus began his professional career working in Washington as legal counsel to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee. Following the election of Governor William WinterWilliam Winter (politician)
William Forrest Winter is an American politician from Mississippi. He served as the 58th Governor of Mississippi from 1980 to 1984 as a Democrat. He is known for his strong support of public education, racial reconciliation, and historic preservation. Winter is best remembered for the passage of...
, he returned to Mississippi to work in the governor's office, where the youthful staff– which included Mabus, Dick Molpus
Dick Molpus
Richard "Dick" Molpus is a former Democratic Party Secretary of State of Mississippi and President of The Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC , a timberland investment management organization headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi....
, John Henegan and Andy Mullins– earned the nickname "Boys of Spring" from a rival state legislator.
Mississippi State Auditor
In 1983, Mabus was elected state auditor and served from 1984 to 1988, during which time he participated in a large FBI sting operation which recovered millions in misspent or stolen public funds. By the time it was finished, "Operation Pretense" ensnared 57 county supervisors in 25 counties, and all but two supervisors served time in prison.Governor of Mississippi
In 1987, he defeated TupeloTupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
businessman Jack Reed
Jack Reed (Mississippi)
Jack Reed, running as a Tupelo, Mississippi businessman, won the Republican nomination for Governor of Mississippi in 1987, defeating Doug Lemon. Reed lost in the general election to Democrat Ray Mabus. At the same time, Reed made a credible showing, winning 47% of the vote, which state...
in the gubernatorial election by 53% to 47%, becoming the youngest governor in the nation at the time. Mabus, who ran on the slogan "Mississippi Will Never Be Last Again," was billed as "the face of the New South
New South
New South, New South Democracy or New South Creed is a phrase that has been used intermittently since the American Civil War to describe the American South, after 1877. The term "New South" is used in contrast to the Old South of the plantation system of the antebellum period.The term has been used...
," much like his counterpart in Arkansas at the time, Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. Mabus was featured in a 1988 New York Times Magazine cover story titled "The Yuppies of Mississippi; How They Took Over the Statehouse" which chronicled his challenges and successes.
During his time as governor, he passed B.E.S.T. (Better Education for Success Tomorrow), gave teachers the largest pay raise in the nation; and was named one of Fortune Magazine’s ten "education governors". Mississippi also had record growth in new jobs, investment, tourism and exports.
Because of the gubernatorial succession amendment ratified in 1987, Mabus was eligible to become the first governor to serve two successive terms in more than 100 years, and he ran for reelection in 1991. He was narrowly defeated in the general election by Republican Kirk Fordice
Kirk Fordice
Daniel Kirkwood "Kirk" Fordice, Jr. was a politician from the US state of Mississippi. He was the 61st Governor of Mississippi from January 14, 1992, until January 11, 2000.-Biography:...
.
Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Mabus was appointed by President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
to be the United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and served from 1994 to 1996. During his tenure, a 1994 border crisis involving Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
was defused, a 1994 crisis with Iraq was deterred, presided over the embassy during the 1995 terrorist attack , child abduction cases
International child abduction
The term international child abduction is generally synonymous with international parental kidnapping, child snatching, and child stealing. However, the more precise legal usage of international child abduction originates in private international law and refers to the illegal removal of children...
were addressed, and contracts worth more than $16 billion were signed between Saudi Arabian and American companies such as Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, and AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
.
Mabus' residence
Quincy House (U.S. Ambassador residence)
Quincy House is the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and is located in Riyadh.-History:Quincy House is located in the Diplomatic Quarter, on the northest side of Riyadh, and is named in honor of an historic meeting that took place at the close of World War II between U.S....
and embassy office in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
were decorated with items of interest from his home state including an Ackerman phone book on his office coffee table and the Mississippi flag next to the American flag.
Business ventures
In August 2007, he joined the board of EnersysEnerSys
EnerSys is a manufacturer of batteries for motive power, reserve power, aerospace, and defense applications. It operates in over 100 countries worldwide, with over 25% market share worldwide with US $2 billion in revenue....
, the world's largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of industrial batteries. From 2006-April 2007, he was Chairman and CEO of Foamex International and helped lead it out of bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Less than nine months after his appointment, Foamex emerged from Chapter 11.
Secretary of the Navy
On March 27, 2009, Mabus was nominated by President Obama as Secretary of the Department of the Navy. He was informally sworn in on May 19, 2009, however it was not until an official ceremony at Washington Navy Yard on June 18, 2009 that Mabus was officially sworn in by the Secretary of Defense Robert GatesRobert Gates
Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
. In April 2010 a furor arose when it was reported that Mabus made the controversial proposal to name a United States Navy warship
USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26)
USS John P. Murtha , will be the 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship of the United States Navy, and will be named in honor of Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania....
after the late Pennsylvania Democrat, John Murtha
John Murtha
John Patrick "Jack" Murtha, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Murtha, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010....
. Secretary Mabus has a presence on Facebook and frequently comments about his daily activities. This is the first case of a branch secretary maintaining a web presence.
President Obama has asked him to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible. The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservationists and other Gulf residents".
Awards, honors, community service
Mabus has been awarded the U.S. Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award, the U.S. Army’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the Martin Luther King Social Responsibility Award from the King CenterKing Center
King Center may refer to:*Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Atlanta, Georgia*Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts, Melbourne, Florida...
in Atlanta, the National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over four million members and supporters, and 48 state and territorial affiliated organizations...
Conservation Achievement Award, the King Abdul Aziz Award from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Mississippi Association of Educators’ Friend of Education Award.
He is active in many community activities, primarily focusing on education. Following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, he founded the Help and Hope Foundation, which works to meet the needs of children affected by the storm.
He is a former member of the RAND
RAND
RAND Corporation is a nonprofit global policy think tank first formed to offer research and analysis to the United States armed forces by Douglas Aircraft Company. It is currently financed by the U.S. government and private endowment, corporations including the healthcare industry, universities...
Center for Middle East Public Policy and the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, and is the Distinguished Lecturer on the Middle East at the University of Mississippi.
As a photographer, his photographs have raised tens of thousands of dollars for various Mississippi charities.
He has appeared on many television programs as an expert on the Middle East, including “60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes is an American television news magazine, which has run on CBS since 1968. The program was created by producer Don Hewitt who set it apart by using a unique style of reporter-centered investigation....
” and “Nightline.”
Personal life
Mabus has two daughters, Elisabeth and Annie, with his first wife.In 1998, Mabus secretly tape recorded conversations he had with his then-wife Julie and a mutual friend (a priest) in attempts to resolve marital difficulties. The conversations provided a basis for Mabus to obtain sole legal custody of the children from that marriage. Julie (now Hines) filed suit against the reverend, his church, and the diocese. The case was the focus of media attention for issues raised relating to privacy rights in the context of churches. Mabus's actions in the incident were legal and he was not named in the suit.