He entered the Navy in 1943 and was assigned to the USS McGinty, a destroyer escort in the South Pacific. Ray’s duties on the ship included ship’s photographer, mailman, and helmsman. His primary duty on the ship was anti-submarine warfare, which included operation of a 50-caliber machine gun.
After his discharge in 1946, Hanley earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1949 from the University of Pittsburgh. He then landed a job in the industrial pneumatics division of Westinghouse Airbrake Co. Following initial training at the company, Ray was transferred to Dallas, where he designed pneumatic systems for controlling large engines, railroad locomotives, offshore drilling rigs, cruise liners, and cargo vessels.
While in Texas, Hanley was promoted to District Sales Manager, covering 11 states and western Canada. He met Ercel Dean Thomas in Dallas, and they married in 1950. He was promoted to Regional Sales Manager in 1956 and moved to Arlington, Va.
Within a few years, he went into business with his brother to form Circuit Engineering, a full-service fluid power distributorship in Jacksonville. He retired from Circuit Engineering in 1996.
Hanley joined the Fluid Power Society in 1960 and served on the Board of Directors in 1984 and was President in 1986 and 1987. As a business owner, he understood the importance of training his staff in the technical intricacies of fluid power. He encouraged the Fluid Power Society to adopt a certification program to educate staffs on the importance of proper procedures for effective and efficient hydraulic systems. The Fluid Power Certification Program began through a generous initial contribution by Mr. Buck Charleson of Minnesota, inventor of the orbit motor, and the determination of Ray Hanley.
Hanley also served multiple terms as Vice President of Certification and became an honorary director of the International Fluid Power Society in 2006. His continuing contribution to IFPS Certifications and their accompanying study manuals led to Hanley being named the first and only IFPS Emeritus Certificate holder to date. He authored two books, Fluid Power Math for Certification and Fluid Power Essential Practices.
The Raymond F. Hanley Scholarship was established by the IFPS in 2014 and will be awarded to a high-caliber student pursuing his or her post-secondary education in fluid power. The endowment is administered by the Fluid Power Educational Foundation.
Hanley was preceded in death by his wife, Ercel, sister Virginia Mattern, and brothers, William “Bill” Hanley and Arnold “Bud” Hanley. He is survived by his eight children and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
The family suggests contributions be made to the Northeast Florida Community Hospice, Jacksonville or the The Raymond Hanley Certification Endowment Fund, c/o the International Fluid Power Society.
Hanley’s personal obituary can be found at: http://www.arlingtonparkfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/11291/Raymond_Francis_Hanley/obituary.html#tribute-start
