Ray Ackerman's love for Oklahoma City was only surpassed by his love for family. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he moved to Oklahoma City in 1947 after serving in the U.S. Navy. Within a year, he had met and married Lucille "Lou" Flanagan, an Oklahoma City native and artist. Together, they raised six children. After leaving the Navy in 1947, he spent 30 years in the Naval Reserve, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral (Ret.).
While selling advertising for The Oklahoman, Mr. Ackerman attended Oklahoma City University in the evenings. After graduating, he joined a small advertising firm that he would later purchase. Headquarted in Oklahoma City, Ackerman McQueen grew to have offices in Tulsa, Dallas, Colorado Springs and Washington, D.C.
Mr. Ackerman grew to love his adopted home, celebrating it in his book "Tomorrow Belongs to Oklahoma." He gave generously of his time and money to numerous nonprofit and civic organizations.
In 2010, he and Lou established the Ray and Lucille Ackerman Marketing Scholarship at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to benefit students at Oklahoma City University. Ray died in 2012.