“This career allows me to have relationships which I love,” noted Brenda Ray a third-generation lawyer whose family has been practicing law in the area for the past 125 years. “We have a combined 168 years of doing legal work many of which are here in the Sylvania area,” she added. Ray’s office has been in the Tolson Building, 6591 W. Central Ave. for over 10 years.
The Ray legal family tradition began with Edward H. Ray who graduated in 1894 from Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Ind., the predecessor of Valparaiso Law School. He practiced law in Indiana until 1895 when he passed the Ohio bar and began practicing law in downtown Toledo. His focus was geared to business and estate planning, especially during the 1920s and 1930s. “He was a well-respected attorney by his peers and his clients,” Ray pointed out. “He was also a great outdoorsman, sportsman, naturalist, hunter, and birder before that became a thing,” she chuckled. “Lou Campbell author of  ‘Birds of the Toledo Area,’ highlighted his birding expertise in his book by writing ‘I am especially indebted to the late Edward H. Ray for much information on extirpated birds and original condition in the Oak Openings,’” Ray offered. “I know my love for the MetroParks is due to his love of the outdoors,” Ray stated.
 “My great-grandfather moved ‘way out to Sylvania’ and built a house on Flanders Road so he could be in part of the Oak Openings. He brought a water line to the property and even developed the street.”
Edward Ray was instrumental in the formation of Highland Meadows Golf Club. In 1925, a group of Ottawa Park golfers who wanted a low-cost, no-frills, golf-only private club hired him to handle the purchase the property and formulate the organization of the group. “Our roots in Sylvania go very deep.”
The legal patriarch’s daughter Elena went to Ohio Northern University Law School where she met her husband Wade Diller. They both graduated in 1934 and joined her father’s law practice. At the time, the Dillers were the only known law partners in the area. She continued the family law practice after her father and husband died, serving her clients for 60 years.
“My great -aunt Elena is why I chose to be an attorney,” Ray said. “When I was six years old, I overheard her talking with her daughter about how she could help someone solve a problem. Right then I decided that is what I wanted to do too,” she recalled. “What impresses me about my great-aunt was her passion for practicing as a woman attorney, recognizing that women have special gifts and talents that are important for the practice of law. She was my inspiration for becoming a lawyer,” she said.
Twenty-five years ago, Ray realized her dream when she graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. “I am honored to carry on my family’s long tradition of practicing law in Toledo for over 125 years now, and hope other young girls and women will consider law as a worthy profession,” she said.
To inspire and encourage young women to consider the legal profession, the Ray family law practice milestones has caught the attention of Ohio State law school, who in partnership with Brenda Ray, has established an endowed Scholarship at Ohio State University College of Law to honor the family’s legacy of practicing law for over 125 years. The scholarship is to be awarded with preference to a student from the greater Toledo area wishing to attend law school at OSU. “I am happy to partner with the Greater Toledo Community Foundation to have a Toledo connection to support the fund with local support, programs and initiatives to inspire children and students to consider law as a profession. We are going to have ways that kids can become ‘legal eagles’ and ‘owl scholars’ to make a fun and exciting aspect to law that showcases how lawyers help people and solve problems for people in a way that is inspiring,” she noted.
In addition to her law degree, Ray is also a CPA and well-versed in accounting and tax issues allowing her to focus on business, tax, retirement, and estate comprehensive planning. “I love numbers and technology, as well as planning,” she said. Ray graduated from the University of Toledo with an accounting degree and spent six years with Deloitte where she gained auditing and tax experience. “This was a great auditing and tax experience.” she said. “Deloitte is very innovative and welcomes women in business. I was also encouraged to play golf as the thought was that networking takes place on the golf course,” she remembered.“I was a gymnast at Sunrise Gymnastics and a member of a state-winning team and I have been an athlete all of my life. I love the game of golf especially since I recently shot a hole-in-one,” she chuckled.
As her family did, Ray continues to give back to her community. She has been a Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce board member, a seven-year chair of the ProMedica Physicians & Continuing Care Foundation based at Flower Hospital, Toledo Zoo board member, Toledo Opera Guild and Toledo Symphony League member, and a long-time member of the Lucas County Bar Association Executive Committee.
She is most pleased, however, with a new concept: BarLawConnect, a vehicle to connect people. “That’s what I do,” she reported. “I love to connect people whether in my office, on the golf course, in community meetings, at the Zoo, or on trails in the MetroParks.”
Ray will be attending the Dana Open tournament at Highland Meadows next week. The 40th anniversary of the tournament this year, and 100th anniversary of Highland Meadows next year has extra special meaning for Ray. As part of BarLawConnect, Ray personally congratulates the winner via social media each year, noting her family’s law connection to the foundations of the club. She will also particiate in the pro-am events this year, and is ready to help showcase the tournment and Sylvania again this year.

The QR Code is a direct link to Brenda Ray’s fund at GTCF.