Gaines Ray “Whimpy” Jeffcoat was born in Opp on February 14, 1922, the son of Julius Claude Jeffcoat and Ruth Breedlove Jeffcoat. He married Audrey Wilson of Evergreen, Alabama, in 1946 and they have two sons, David Jeffcoat of Auburn and Everett Jeffcoat of Montgomery, they have three grandchildren.
Ray grew up in Opp and attended Opp City Schools. He graduated from Opp High School in 1940 as an Honor Student, President of his class and an All-State football selection. After high school, Ray attended college and played football at Perkinston Jr. College and Auburn. In the spring of 1942, Ray joined the Marine Corps’ V-12 program along with most of the Auburn football team and transferred to Duke University. He graduated from Duke in 1943 with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. Ray served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946, where he continued to compile an outstanding record, serving 18 months in the South Pacific.
In 1946 Ray returned to Opp and began his career with Opp and Micolas Mills. Starting in the maintenance shop at the minimum wage, Ray worked through numerous positions to his current position of Board Chairman. Believing that helping and caring for people should be an inherent part of any responsible position, Ray operated the mills in a way that showed concern for the welfare of his employees and the people of Opp. Two of his earliest responsibilities were the rewiring of 214 mill houses so the employees could enjoy electric appliances and the installation of indoor bathrooms when the city put in sewage lines in 1950. His ability to get the job done led to positions of leader- ship from which his foresight and business acumen led the Opp and Micolas Mills to growth and stability during times when stability was not the norm in the textile industry. The success of the mills influenced every aspect of economic life in the community and improved the quality of life for all Opp’s citizens. Ray has shared his business in- sight by serving on the boards of Alabama Electric Coop, SouthTrust Bank, Mizell Memorial Hospital, WAMI Radio, and Dixie Investment.
Ray has made many noteworthy contributions in education. He served on the City Board of Education for 10 years. He authorized and promoted the Opp & Micolas Educational Foundation that has helped more than 500 of Opp’s youth attend college. Ray was instrumental in securing the MacArthur Technical School for Opp and for setting up a scholarship fund to enable students to attend. He provided the leadership for securing the Opp High School Area Vocational Center. In recognition of his work with the Council on Vocational and Technical Education, the Ray Jeffcoat Foundation was created to award scholarships to two-year college students in his name.
Ray has given unselfishly of his time and abilities to provide leadership for accomplishing many worthy projects for the community. Some of the areas he served are Opp City Council, PTA, Lions Club, Opp Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Alabama, United Fund, Boy Scouts (Silver Beaver), Arts Council, Historical Society, Country Club, Alabama Reunion and Opp’s Hall of Fame. Ray’s contributions and influence have extended far beyond the boundaries of Opp. In the textile industry he has represented Opp on the state, national and international level. In education he has served as Chairman of Alabama’s Vocational Education Advisory Council and chaired the fund-raising effort which resulted in the Vocational Education Building at Auburn. He was chosen to receive the Alabama Textile Education Award of Merit, only the second Alabamian to receive this honor.
Ray has been a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1929. His spiritual commitment is reflected in every area of his life and has given him a sincere desire to serve his fellow man. He served his church in every capacity, and has served in leadership roles on the district, state and national levels. He has taught an adult Sunday School Class for 30 plus years and has been a Lay Speaker for more than 20 years. He was a charter member of the local Men’s Club and served as its first President.
Ray Jeffcoat has made good citizenship a career. Over and over, one hears from his peers, “His great belief in and commitment to his God, family and community are evident in his lifestyle”. He personifies the expression, “The best people in the world live and work in Opp”. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.
