The whole day was emotional, but it wasn’t until the very end that I cried. They were incredibly satisfying tears, generated by a sense of pride that overcame an entire month’s worth of grief.
August of 2011 was a sad time. Early in the month, Ray passed away after his long fight with cancer. Three days later, literally with my family gathered by Ray’s graveside for the funeral, my father received a call that his mother was passing after her own lengthy health struggles. Within a span of a week, both sides of my family began the long process of mourning departed loved ones.
We all cried a lot that month. We cried in grief for our losses, we cried in laughter remembering joyous family stories, and we cried in humility as countless friends offered their loving tributes to my Daddy Ray and Mama Trish. To this day, I remain grateful for the comfort that so many brought to the Anderson and Lanier families that month.
The leadership at Interface was so kind to us as well. The company wanted to honor Ray with a memorial service, but out of respect for the family, Interface waited a few weeks to schedule their celebration of Ray’s life. As we settled into the Callaway Auditorium at LaGrange College for that service, I thought I had cried all the tears that I had.
Initially I was right. We heard many touching remembrances that day, and the day was a perfect tribute to Ray’s memory. Still, I managed to keep my composure throughout. But then, as it all came to a close, they marched out.
In full uniform, the Georgia Tech marching band emerged from stage right, took position on the stage, and began to play the Institute’s fight song. I’ve known it by heart nearly my entire life. I learned that song as a boy at Georgia Tech football games, standing waist high at Ray’s side. I could sing it in my sleep.
But not that day. The words wouldn’t come, though not for lack of trying. The tears came freely enough though. I cried that day because I was proud of my grandfather.
Ray loved his family. He loved his company and his employees. He grew to love this beautiful blue-green planet and the life upon it. But his alma mater held a special place in his heart. Yes, Ray loved Georgia Tech.
Last week, the Foundation announced jointly with Georgia Tech that the Center for Business Strategies for Sustainability at the Scheller College of Business was being renamed the “Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business.” Through this Center, and with the Foundation’s support, Georgia Tech will strive to educate the Ray Andersons of tomorrow, the people who will shepherd in the Second Industrial Revolution we so desperately need to bring business into harmony with society and the environment. We can think of no more fitting way to honor Ray and his passions.
Three and a half years later, I’m still not out of tears. I cried again as I wrote this, and I did so for one simple reason:
I am still proud of my grandfather. And I know that he is proud to see his name affixed to the Center for Sustainable Business at his beloved alma mater.
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