Ray was an honors student and was due to graduate that May with a degree in business administration and a minor in religious studies. ... Jason Ray. Posted Tuesday, March 27, 2007 E-mail this page Printer-friendly page. State veterinarians stated that the slash to its throat was most likely the fatal wound. Just a few seconds later Hackney kicked a 30-yard field goal that eventually won the game for the Tar Heels; the final score was 3-0. Charles gave Vic $25 to purchase a ram. “Your father and I believe we come into the world with all these little parts, and we should leave with all these little parts.”, “No, Mother,” Jason said, opening the refrigerator and looking for something to eat. Not yours.". It raises money for the UNC Hospital's Transplant Clinic, which was renamed in Jason Ray's honor in 2016. Jason Ray At the time, Jason Ray was a student and mascot for the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. While Jason was still alive – although showing no brain activity – Emmitt was first asked by a transplant nurse in New Jersey if he would consent to have Jason's organs donated to others. They already had three sons between them from earlier marriages. Charlotte Ray had never told Emmitt Ray about the conversation she had with Jason that night in the kitchen, and Emmitt did not know about the tiny red heart on Jason’s license. “And it’s my decision. [6][7] An attacker slashed the ram's throat and cut off its left front leg, stabbing it as many as 10 times along its chest and neck. Jason was a member of their family and they extended their support to us and provided support to our family as we have dealt with this terrible loss. Could these Carolina Panthers — who just won again — actually make the playoffs. They were not originally signed up to be organ donors themselves, which is common. Ray was also an active member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, his church choir, and was the lead singer in the band Nine PM Traffic. [1], On the evening of October 26, 2015, Rameses Jr., or RJ for short, made his debut during Late Night with Roy, North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball's annual Midnight Madness event. The foundation has raised $400,000 during its existence; the Rays have a goal of $1 million. As for the Rays, they have three grandchildren and one great grandchild. They called it "9 PM Traffic," because originally they started the band while Jason was going to Jay M. Robinson High in Concord. The kid is laying down there. [1], On the evening of October 26, 2015, Rameses Jr., or RJ for short, made his debut during Late Night with Roy, North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball's annual Midnight Madness event. Far from it. Our hearts and prayers again go out to his family and friends in this time of extraordinary grief.”. ”Jason believed in organ donation and in the sharing of the gift of life,” Allen Ray says. Although authorities would later charge them with lying to police, Observer research indicates that neither served any jail time. [2][3] After the pep rally the ram was taken to Emerson Field. The Rays, who are in their early 70s, have fallen out of touch with some of the families who were organ recipients. Jason Ray, Tar Heel mascot, dies after car accident. See that red heart? Jason would die the next day. While Jason was still alive – although showing no brain activity – Emmitt was first asked by a transplant nurse in New Jersey if he would consent to have Jason’s organs donated to others. [CDATA[ I love this picture I found of Jason walking out of one room and into another. "He could do anything he wanted to do, because I wouldn't have to go through it. And so are we.”, [READ MORE: Scott Fowler’s recent columns], Scott Fowler: 704-358-5140, [email protected], @scott_fowler. Rehearsals had to end at 9 p.m. then so everyone could go home and do their homework. Before stepping out on the field he rubbed Rameses' head. Jason wanted to know more about God, so he questioned his pastors and Sunday School teachers relentlessly and ran a Bible study for seniors at Chapel Hill. She doesn't mind talking about her son, though. “That’s a nice picture, Jason,” Charlotte said. Late in the fourth quarter Bunn Hackney was called out to attempt a field goal. Rameses is the ram mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels. Ten years ago, the phone call that every parent dreads rang in the house Charlotte and Emmitt Ray. Ten years ago, North Carolina Tar Heels mascot Jason Ray entered our lives in an unexpected and tragic way. Through three quarters the game was scoreless. February 25, 2017 at 10:34 PM EST - Updated August 12 at 6:35 PM. We hope that Jason’s gift will be able to help up to 50 people in critical need of transplant.”, “This is a devastating loss to the Ray family and our University community,” says Director of Athletics Dick Baddour. She remembers the rest of the conversation this way. He was a tremendous ambassador of the University of North Carolina and that spirit will live on forever. [6][7] An attacker slashed the ram's throat and cut off its left front leg, stabbing it as many as 10 times along its chest and neck. They also worked with others to get a beautiful documentary that ESPN produced about their family's story called "Ray of Hope" shown to almost every driver's education class in North Carolina. As Charlotte Ray remembers it, he came into their house while she was paying bills, slapped his license on the table and asked her to look at it. One is a member of the UNC cheerleading team in an anthropomorphic ram costume; the second is also an anthropomorphic ram costume, and the third is a live Dorset Horn sheep named Rameses who attends Carolina football games with his horns painted Carolina blue.[1]. Charlotte Ray said she agreed so easily back then because of one overriding thought. In an interview with CBS News chief medical correspondent and 60 Minutes contributor Dr. Jon LaPook, Dr. Anthony Fauci looked ahead to how the virus may impact Americans' lives in the year to come. Ray died on March 26, 2007 at the Hackensack University Medical Center as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident. The mascot costume has huge yellow horns, and Jason himself liked to grab life by the horns and shake it for all it was worth. [14][15] An endowment fund, also dedicated to Ray, was started to raise funds for patients unable to pay for their transplants. The Ray family pledged to raise one million dollars for this endowment fund. Injured Christian McCaffrey didn’t play for the Carolina Panthers when they lost to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. “Not the picture, Mother,” Jason said. Search. Jason had been walking along the shoulder of a highway, on his way to buy a burrito and soda at a nearby convenience store before donning the Rameses costume again for UNC for a 2007 NCAA men’s basketball tournament game. As for the people in the car who hit Jason 10 years ago in New Jersey, they were a father and son named Gagik and Armen Hovsepyan. The gifts that Jason's organs gave to others bought them time – some more than others. But every month, that $50 money order from Stephanie still comes in the mail. Rehearsals had to end at 9 p.m. then so everyone could go home and do their homework. He made the Panthers fun to watch without McCaffrey. They called it “9 PM Traffic,” because originally they started the band while Jason was going to Jay M. Robinson High in Concord. Eedition. The origin of a ram as North Carolina's mascot dates back to 1924. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Charlotte Ray remembers the day someone from UNC Hospital called her about raising one million dollars in her son's name. The Panthers beat bad teams without Christian McCaffrey. Walters said small children were frightened by the current version of the Rameses costume. "But it's always there. Three versions of Rameses appear at UNC sporting events.