Raymond Carl Schultz

As a biology teacher for 22 years, Ray was known for interspersing lectures with corny jokes and riddles that brought the study of flora and fauna to life, if not always bringing the house down. A master storyteller and gifted writer, Ray authored his memoirs, a novel, a brief history of Manual, and several books of poetry and short stories over the years.

In his words, Ray "tried to retire" from football several times, but always seemed to find a way to return to the game he loved. His initial 1996 retirement as Manual's AD was followed by a second coaching stint there, including the 2000 season in which he was named IPSAC Coach of the Year. He later joined Franklin Central's staff and led its freshman team to an undefeated 2003 season. Two years later, at an age most retirees should be perfecting their golf game, he started the football program at Indianapolis Lutheran, then served as its head coach for three seasons. For 10 years Ray was the Indianapolis Colts' representative to BLESTO, a precursor of the NFL combine that called on him to scout personnel at each Colts home game. Manual's stadium was named after him in 1994 and rededicated in his honor in 2019.

On his "first" retirement in 1996, Ray was named a Sagamore of the Wabash and received the Indianapolis Oldtimer Club's Owen J. Bush Memorial Award. Recognized as the 1995 District III Athletic Administrator of the Year by the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (IIAAA), he was later honored with the Charles Maas Distinguished Service Award from the IIAAA in 1997. Ray received the Gerald R. Ford All-American Coach Award in 2005 and was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame a year later. Just a week ago, Ray was recognized at Purdue's homecoming as the John Purdue Club Member of the Game.

Far beyond any career recognition, what was always most important to "Coach" (as he is still called by many) was the opportunity to see his students and athletes develop into young adults and instill in them enduring values for life. In this he excelled beyond measure—as much by his example as through his extraordinary gift of teaching. As he once wrote, "While I may have set out to build a football dynasty, I ended up establishing a ministry."

A lifelong member and lay leader of Emmaus Lutheran Church, Ray taught Sunday School and led countless Bible studies over the years. He founded the Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle at Manual and was a study group leader in Bible Study Fellowship International. Ray was actively involved with Emmaus Lutheran School (his grade school alma mater) and with Indianapolis Lutheran High School. He helped organize Kristi's Games at the high school, an annual festival named for his daughter whose life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver in 2001. He spearheaded the creation of the Kristi Broughton Memorial Park in 2016, a beautiful playground for children in Emmaus' Fountain Square neighborhood.

Ray was a constant presence over the years in civic and community engagement on his native Southside. In retirement, he built a business in his spare time and managed the Meridian Plaza shopping center his parents had established in the 1950's. He remained active in the Emmerich Manual High School Alumni Association and the Central Indiana Writers Association, frequently got involved in Garfield Park neighborhood initiatives, taught science classes at Indiana Business College, and ran for State Representative in 1998.

Above all, Ray was most proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He delighted in watching them grow, cheering them on, and celebrating their talents and achievements—a regular source of inspiration for his beautiful and poignant written works, among them a second, unfinished novel dedicated to his granddaughters.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mary, his brother Richard, and his beloved eldest daughter Kristi. He is survived by Sandra (Steele) Schultz, his wife of 62 years, daughter Karen (Dick) Alter, son Steven (Brynne) Schultz, son-in-law Leon (Kristi) Broughton and Leon's wife Cathleen; grandchildren Jennifer (Nick) Schmaltz, Jessica Broughton, Jared Broughton, Evelyn Schultz, Anna Schultz, Audrey Schultz, Matthew Alter and Mary Schultz, as well as Cathleen's son Jason (Lauren) Puskas; and great grandsons Charlie, Carter and Cooper Schmaltz and Jason's children Finley and Harrison Puskas. Visitation will be on Monday, October 11, 2021 from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Emmerich Manual High School, 2405 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46225. Funeral Service will be conducted Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 10:00am at Emmaus Lutheran Church, 1224 Laurel Street, Indianapolis, IN 46203 10/12/2021 10:00 AM. He will be laid to rest at Concordia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Ray Schultz Memorial Foundation, Inc., 6603 Silver Creek Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46259.