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Ray D. Bass
BASS, Ray D., 73, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, passed away, Thursday, March 22, 2007, in a local hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 24, 2007, at 2p.m. at Alabama Heritage Funeral Home Chapel Rev .George Vinson officiating. Burial will follow in Letohatchee Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. He is survived by his wife, Clara Smith Bass; two daughters, Beth Bass (Mitchell)Pate, Montgomery, AL, Joan Bass (John) Brunson, Athens, AL; one son, Tom (Marilyn)Bass, Guntersville, AL; one brother, James O. (Pat) Bass; aunt, Geraldine Parker; nieces Cindy Bass (Greg) Trawick, Angela (Morris) Henry; nephew, Tim (Debbie) Bass; five grandchildren, Mitch Pate, Susanna Pate, Christina Brunson, Jill Brunson and Libby Brunson. Active pallbearers will be Mitchell Pate, Mitch Pate, John Brunson, Greg Trawick, David Reed and Dr. Thomas Wool. A native of Slocomb in Geneva County, Mr. Bass was a 1959 Auburn University civil engineering graduate and a U.S. Navy Veteran. Mr. Bass served as highway director during three of George C. Wallace's four terms as governor (1971-1979 and 1983-1987). He worked nearly a half century in public service. Among the projects during Bass' service as director are the George C. Wallace Tunnel in Mobile, Mobile Bay Crossing, Mobile Delta Crossing, 1-459 Bypass in Birmingham, I-565 spur connector in Huntsville, Warrior Bridge in Tuscaloosa and the Tennessee River Bridge in Guntersville. He was chief engineer for the Alabama Department of Transportation since 1995. He was a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, serving in the past on that group's Standing Committee on Highways and the board of directors of the National Center for Asphalt Paving. He was a past chairman of the National Council of State Railroad Officials. As a proponent of education, he was a founder of Lowndes Academy, president of their board of trustees from 1965 to 1972, was first president of the Alabama Independent School Association and remained active in the private school association. In addition to his service at ALDOT, his career also included public service as the county engineer in Lowndes, Montgomery, Dallas and Tuscaloosa Counties. He retired Jun 1, 2005 as ALDOT's chief engineer. Ray Bass was a colorful personality who deeply loved his family and friends. He will be missed by all. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ray Bass Annual Scholarship in Civil Engineering, at Auburn University, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, 107 Ramsay Hall, Auburn University, AL, 36849-5330 or the Ray Bass Endowed Engineering Scholarship at the University of Alabama, Box 870200,Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Alabama Heritage Directing.
Birmingham News, Alabama, Friday, March 23, 2007
Ray Bass
Former state highway director, engineer Ray Bass dies at 73
Ray Bass, former state highway director and chief engineer of the Alabama Transportation Department, died early Thursday at a Montgomery hospital.
His widow, Clara Bass, said he was hospitalized late Wednesday for internal bleeding. The couple would have been married 50 years in December, she said.
Mr. Bass, 73, served as highway director during three of former Gov. George C. Wallace's four terms, in 1971-1979 and 1983-1987.
He is the only person to serve consecutive terms as highway director, and served as director longer than anyone else. He retired June 1, 2005, as ALDOT's chief engineer, a position he held since 1995.
''Ray Bass was a colorful personality and is held in high esteem for his involvement in many significant infrastructure projects throughout Alabama,'' said state Transportation Director Joe McInnes.
Among projects developed during Mr. Bass' service as director are the George C. Wallace Tunnel in Mobile, Mobile Bay Crossing, Mobile Delta Crossing, Interstate 459 in Birmingham, I565 spur connector in Huntsville, Warrior Bridge in Tuscaloosa and the Tennessee River Bridge in Guntersville.
Mr. Bass said when he retired in 1995 that ''every public road is a political road.''
He said it's no secret that road decisions are determined by whether local politicians have supported the administration in power at the time.
State Sen. Bobby Denton, DMuscle Shoals, said Mr. Bass followed Wallace's orders to build highways in certain areas for political reasons. ''It was a completely different political era,'' Denton said.
Denton described Mr. Bass as matter-of-fact person. ''There was great respect for him, because he wanted to get the taxpayers' money's worth with road projects and bridges,'' Denton said.
''He would always tell you the truth. He was always dependable, and he would do what he said,'' Denton recalled. ''He would try to help you find a way to do things. If it was something that was not doable, that didn't need to be done, he would just tell you, you're going down the wrong path.''
Denton said Mr. Bass resisted settling the Reynolds lawsuit, which alleged racial discrimination in hiring at the Transportation Department, because ''he believed the department hadn't done anything wrong.
''He thought he was fair, as far as race was concerned,'' Denton said. ''He didn't think the department hired in a discriminatory manner, and so he didn't want to settle the Reynolds lawsuit.''
The lawsuit, which began in 1985, has cost the state almost $300 million and is finally being wrapped up, transportation officials say.
Mr. Bass was founder of Lowndes Academy, president of its board of trustees from 1965 to 1972, and was the first president of the Alabama Independent
School Association.
Rep. Mike Hill, R-Columbiana, said Mr. Bass was a friend.
''As chief engineer he did a great job,'' said Hill, a member of the Legislature's Joint Transportation Committee. ''He liked to help people. He was an amazing man. He was just like your grandfather.''
Hill said Mr. Bass was politically aware and knew how state government and the Legislature worked
''He knew who the players were and how to get things done,'' Hill said.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1933 - 2007 (73 years)