He played the game, organized the game, coached the game, officiated the game and promoted the game of lacrosse. Ray Van Giesen, a native of Auburn, played four years of football and lacrosse at Hobart and was named All-American in lacrosse his senior year.

In 1931, he taught science and served as Vice-Principal at Fayetteville High School. He organized the county’s first non-city lacrosse team at Fayetteville in 1932 and coached there for five years. In 1937 the program was scuttled at all the high schools, so Ray became referee for college games from 1937 to 1946. During World War II, he was head official for the area.

In 1951, he helped form the Fayetteville-Manlius School District and was its first Supervising Principal. He was named the first Superintendent of the district in 1957. Following his retirement in 1961, Ray served Central City Business Institute as a career counselor for 28 years. He “re-retired” in 1989 following nearly six decades of service to young people and a lifelong dedication to the sport of lacrosse.

Raymond Van Giesen is being inducted in the Old Timers category.