"AIDS Victim Ricky Ray Remembered as "Beautiful Soul""

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1992. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

"AIDS Victim Ricky Ray Remembered as "Beautiful Soul""

United Press International (12/19/92)

Abstract: Sarasota, Fla.--Ricky Ray, the 15-year-old hemophiliac who died of AIDS, was remembered by family and friends as a "beautiful soul that has touched our lives." A letter from President-elect Bill Clinton was delivered to Ray's parents by Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.). Clinton had telephoned Ricky while he was in the hospital last month to show his support. The letter said in part, "The pains and trials that you and your children have experienced have helped all Americans to show more understanding and less bigotry about AIDS." The Rev. James Martin, minister of administration at First Baptist lamented "an ongoing of this beautiful soul that has touched our lives and has touched the lives of people around our world." Ray died early Sunday Dec. 13 at the family home in east Orange County after a six-year battle against AIDS. He and his two hemophiliac brothers, Robert, 14, and Randy, 13, were diagnosed with HIV infection in 1986 while living in Arcadia, Fla. They are believed to have contracted HIV through contaminated blood transfusions. Robert and Randy are not yet exhibiting outward signs of the disease, said Dr. Jerry Barbosa, chief of pediatrics at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Local officials in Arcadia banned the brothers from attending school in 1986. But the parents sued and a federal court ordered officials to allow them to take regular classes. Other students' parents boycotted the school for a week, and an arsonist destroyed the Ray home in 1987.

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