- Date Of Birth: September 7, 1933
- Date Of Death: March 3, 2011
- State: Florida
Ray Claiborne Osborne entered eternity on March 3, 2011, at peace in his home in Boca Raton concluding a blessed life surrounded by those he most cherished, his wife of fortynine (49) years, Mary Thom Osborne, his daughter, Molly Payne Osborne, and his grandson, Nicholas Payne.
A key figure in the foundation of Florida’s modern political structure, R.C. was born on
September 7, 1933 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to Maggie Osborne and Rufus
Charles Osborne, as the sixth (6th) of seven (7) children in the family. Both parents
worked for Chatham Manufacturing Company, which relocated its plant to Elkin, North Carolina, in 1939 causing the family to move to Elkin the same year. Notwithstanding the very modest circumstances in which he was raised which caused him to always be very focused, great joy was experienced in his youth as he was constantly engaged in a number of school and outdoor activities, particularly with his three (3) brothers. At a very early age, R.C.
Chatham Manufacturing Company, the dominant force in the area’s economy, annually presented a full scholarship to the outstanding member of the Elkin Senior Class. As the recipient of this prestigious award, R.C. was able to attend North Carolina State University, majoring in Textile Management. During his undergraduate days, he was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, serving as its President, a member of the Interfraternity Council, a member of Phi Psi Textile Fraternity, and was inducted into the Blue Key Men’s Leadership Fraternity.
Following graduation in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science degree, having been
Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army through the R.O.T.C.
Program, R.C. served on active duty from 1955 to 1957 with a tour of duty in Germany. Discharged from active duty as a First Lieutenant in 1957, one year was spent working with his older brother Brady in retail sales. During this time he committed himself to becoming a professional.
In order to put himself through Law School, it was always necessary to work three and
sometimes four jobs while carrying a full academic load. Housing needs were satisfied by serving as the Resident Assistant in the Law School Dorm and counseling fellow Law
Students concerning the problems and issues they were facing.
Notwithstanding the heavy burdens he had assumed, some small personal time was set aside which afforded the most serendipitous moment of his young life. During her first week on campus, Mary Thomas White, a recent transferee from Mary Washington College (at that time females were only allowed to attend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill for their junior and senior years) and R.C. met. R.C. and Mary Thom were never apart again.
Following his graduation from Law School in 1961 and the securing of an associate
position, they married on October 21, 1961. Displaying a prescience that, although always one of his strengths, was astounding in light of the times, R.C. advised Mary Thom that although he was very well established in North Carolina, the future was to the south. They would go to California, Arizona, or Florida. A job offer dictated that the decision would be “Florida”. The honeymoon journey to Florida was devoted to establishing their new home in a garage apartment on Coffee Pot Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida. The demands on a young associate in a law firm permitted little time outside of the office and family. R.C. limited these efforts to the Young Republican Club of Pinellas County which was the only source of Republican Party activity in virtually a one-party state. Soon R.C. was asked to serve as the President of the Young Republicans. Again showing the ability to peer beyond the horizon and see what others only see later, he indicated to Mary Thom that this event would forever change the course of their lives.
In 1964, R.C.
Following this election, it was announced that R.C.
On January 7, 1969, at the age of thirty-five (35), R.C. became the first Lieutenant
Governor of the State of Florida in the 20th Century. During his term as Lieutenant
Governor, R.C. served as Secretary of Commerce and legislative liaison doing much to
repair the previous rupture and provide someone with whom the necessary frank and
earnest discussions could take place. He was a key figure in the very delicate negotiation necessary to cause the much needed “Legislative Pay Raise” to be passed after an initial veto by the Governor. Although a period of great social upheaval, the Kirk Osborne administration caused the State of Florida to advance far beyond the choked political system that Florida previously suffered under while controlled by the “Pork Chop Gang”, made up of a few rural North Florida legislators who controlled all aspects of State government. First and foremost, Florida became a true functioning two party state. As a result, many contracts and opportunities to do business with and for the State of Florida were opened to all Floridians. A lasting hallmark of the administration was the establishment of the first meaningful environmental regulations and the structure to enforce them. The Florida Clean Air Act and the Florida Clean Water Act that were passed at that time remain largely unchanged today and have served as models for similar legislation in many other jurisdictions. In 1970, R.C. sought the GOP nomination to the U.S. Senate seat which had been held by the retiring Spessard Holland since 1948. Reflecting his cooperative spirit, at the request of the Republican Party, he abandoned these efforts to run on the Republican ticket as Lieutenant Governor. Losing a bid for a second term to two seasoned Democratic politicians, in what was still largely a Democratic state, Ruben
O’D’Askew and Tom Adams, R.C.
In keeping with this commitment, he served on the Board of Directors of the Boca Raton National Bank, Citizens National Bank, Fidelity National Bank, and following the acquisition of Boca Raton National Bank, on the Board of First Union National Bank of Florida.
An accomplished and knowledgeable golfer, R.C. was Club Champion of the Royal Palm
Yacht and Country Club and a Founding Member of the Adios Golf Club. The game of
many fellow golfers was greatly improved by the insights and techniques R.C. so willingly shared with them.
His strong management, organizational skills, and concentration permitted his law firm to at one point become the largest in the south Palm Beach County area.
R.C joined with Bill Shubin in the 1980’s in the development of Via Mizner Financial Plaza, one of the first projects initiated in the downtown area following the formation of the CRA.
