#MyStoryMonday: Ray Tillman

Ray (center) with Red Cross volunteers from Pennsylvania.
Photo credit: Ray Tillman

During a disaster, communication with loved ones is a top priority. Getting a simple message to your family that you are safe can mean the world to them. No one knows this better than Ray Tillman, Amateur Radio Liaison for the Red Cross. “I try to pick up new amateur radio hands to become volunteers. That way, if they are on deployment and they have a radio that’s capable, they can take it with them on deployment,” said Ray.

Ray is from Marion, Ohio and got involved with the Red Cross in 2014. He belonged to an amateur radio club that set up a station in Shepherdsville. The previous Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Mike Crenshaw told Ray they needed his skills. “They handed me a computer and said here you go,” explained Ray. Ray works with the area radio stations to communicate messages to the Red Cross.

“It comes in handy. When the tornadoes hit Western Kentucky, they drove people around for Damage Assessment. Driver would be amateur radio operator and would operate radio. They used them for a couple of days while the internet was out,” said Ray. You must be licensed to get on the radio and use different frequencies to communicate long distance. Amateur Radio Liaison’s take a go kit on a disaster response and can get ahold of someone who is monitoring the radio.

Photo credit: Ray Tillman

“I can be monitoring the radio and all of a sudden get a message from Cuba,” said Ray. He assisted a lot of people in Cuba over the Thanksgiving holiday and ended up helping the International Red Cross. That’s one of his favorite memories of being a volunteer. “It was a couple in Cuba that wanted to make contact with family in Louisville, Kentucky… It was after the hurricanes had hit there. It was a thrill to connect with the International Red Cross and help. Not many volunteers can say they have done that,” expressed Ray.

Not many volunteers would give up full days and holidays to help others, but Ray loves his work. When the hurricanes hit Puerto Rico, he was on the radio 24/7. “I still get messages from Puerto Rico because only about half of the island has communication. There are still parts with none at all,” said Ray. For areas like this, amateur radio is their only resource for communicating with loved ones.

Ray currently has a station set up at his house in his kitchen. It’s long hours but he stays stocked with a coffee maker, freezer, stove, and fridge nearby. If he ever loses power, he’s prepared with a backup generator. “I’ve got 1,000 watts that I can reach out and touch somebody,” commented Ray.

When disaster hits, Ray is up all-night monitoring storms and maps. “If there’s a tornado, I can follow that storm and know where it’s going. In the meantime, I’m listening to the radio to listen to comments coming out of affected areas to hear damages. People missing. I take that information and relay it to the Red Cross disaster team.”

Photo credit: Ray Tillman

This information helps the local disaster teams get prepared, because most likely we are not on the scene until the next day. We need time to mobilize, and Ray assists in that preparation. The first 48 hours is crucial in a disaster operation, and he helps bridge that gap.

Outside of radio efforts, Ray assists the Red Cross with other community programs. During Thanksgiving, he has helped pass out turkeys to families who had lost their homes. At Christmas parties, he’s assisted with passing out toys to kids. Ray has also responded to home fires in the local area.

Now 83 years young, Ray likes to fish and watch Ohio State athletics. He was in law enforcement for 12 years working in narcotics. He is a past President of the Bullitt Amateur Radio Society and plans to host ARRL Summer Field Day at the Louisville Red Cross office parking lot in June.

ARRL is the American Radio Relay League. Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event held annually in the U.S. and Canada, according to ARRL.org. It’s held on the fourth full weekend in June. Ray has a team roster ready to camp out and practice their emergency response capabilities.

Volunteers like Ray inspire us to keep doing the hard work! We are so appreciative of his dedication to help families in the U.S. and other countries.

Learn more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/volunteertoday

#MyStoryMonday: Mary Bennett

Mary Bennett, Louisville
Area Chapter volunteer

“I really like how there’s a sense of community within the Red Cross. The volunteers and employees seem to be a tight knit group.” Mary Bennett started volunteering after deadly flooding hit Eastern Kentucky in 2021. She assisted at the Hazard, Kentucky shelter for the day. She was immediately drawn to the mission and started investigating more opportunities to be involved with Red Cross.

Mary grew up in the local area in Meade County. She lived in Elizabethtown for 22 years and now lives in Spencer County with her husband, Byron, and their labradane dog, Nova. Mary has a daughter named Stefanie that lives in Hoboken, NJ. Mary and Byron both work at UPS and are hoping to retire in a couple of years. She currently works part time, so that gives her the opportunity to volunteer.

Mary is a member of our Disaster Action Team (DAT) and has responded to house fire calls. Our DAT team members are often the first to respond on scene during a disaster, helping provide support, supplies, water, and comfort. She is also a Blood Transportation Specialist, where she transports blood to local hospitals. “It’s important to volunteer because we should always be giving back and helping others,” said Mary.

Mary has been a blood donor since high school. She currently has her 8-gallon donation pin. Her father was diagnosed with lymphoma around 6 years ago and Mary donates platelets to give back to cancer patients. “I’ve donated more consistently in the past few years,” commented Mary.

Mary and Byron

In her free time, Mary enjoys playing golf with Byron, hiking, paddling, and walking Nova. She also likes to cook and commented that the Thanksgiving holiday is her favorite. Mary and Byron are co-team leaders at Southeast Christian Church Blankenbaker Campus in the children’s ministry. They assist with babies from birth until they are of walking age. They get the children checked in and help manage the 5 children’s rooms.

Mary commented on Byron’s generosity saying, “he makes sure all of our volunteers are taken care of.” Byron hopes to have more time in the coming years to tag team with Mary in her Red Cross volunteering efforts. They have been married for 20 years.

We are incredibly thankful for husband-and-wife teams like Mary and Byron! If you are interested in learning more about our DAT teams or becoming a blood transportation specialist, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Mary and Nova