Ray was born and raised on Long Island before attending JMU in 1971. In 1975 he graduated with a BS in Business Administration and Political Science. He then married Pam Nuckols in 1976. They have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

He attended T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1977 and graduated in 1979. Ray began a solo law practice in 1984 and was one of the founding members of Sinnott, Nuckols & Logan in 1989. Ray has been a trial lawyer for over 40 years. The firm has recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Ray has appeared in most of the state and federal courts in Virginia and has tried over 450 jury trials including product liability, construction, toxic torts, brain injury and insurance coverage.