Raymond F. Beagle Jr. ’47

Ray died Jan. 16, 2016, after a short illness.

He attended the Lawrenceville School and earned a scholarship to Princeton, but his arrival on campus was delayed due to World War II. Ray entered the Navy’s V-12 training program for officers and became commanding officer of a landing-ship tank after his commission. After the war was over, Ray was assigned to the Pacific to transport troops and help disarm Japanese forces on various islands.

After his military service, Ray came to Princeton, graduated in 1949, and then attended Northwestern Law School. After earning a law degree in 1952, he moved to New York to work for Goldman Sachs, but soon returned to Kansas City, his hometown, to practice law. Ray was instrumental in establishing the first national collective-bargaining system for the trucking industry. He became the industry’s general counsel and held that position for 25 years.

Ray then joined a predecessor firm of Lathrop & Gage in 1969. After a chance encounter with multiplex pioneer Stanley Durwood, Ray began a multi-decade personal and professional relationship with Durwood and AMC Entertainment, where he served as its general counsel for 14 years. Ray was chairman of Lathrop & Gage from 2000 to 2007 and continued as senior counsel until his death.

He is survived by Constance, his loving wife of 58 years.