Dr. Raymond A. Marquardt graduated with a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Colorado State University, and then went to Michigan State University for a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics with an emphasis on Marketing Statistics.

Ray began his career as Director of Research for Market Facts in downtown Chicago. After having enough of the big city, he taught at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, then, onto the University of Wyoming for 19 years, where he served as Associate Dean and a Professor in the College of Business Administration. At the University of Nebraska, he was Director of the Agribusiness program, and Nordin Laboratories Distinguish Professor.

His last career move was to Arizona State University, where he served as Dean of the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management.

Ray co-authored two marketing textbooks, published over 95 journal articles and presented over 50 papers around the world, from Norway to New Zealand.

While at the University of Nebraska Ray made 10 trips to Albania to teach entrepreneurship to government officials. He also gave a two-week seminar at Senshu University in Tokyo, and a three-week seminar at Karl Marx University in Budapest. Ray and Alberta hosted foreign exchange students in their home from Italy, the Netherlands and Japan.

Ray received honors and awards too numerous to mention, but one honor he especially enjoyed, was being a guest coach with Tom Osborne, at a University of Nebraska football game.

His hard work ethic and integrity took him from a one room schoolhouse to Dean of the Agribusiness and Resource Management program at Arizona State University.

Ray is survived by his wife, Alberta: two daughters, five grandchildren and one brother. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Herman and Helen Hahlweg Marquardt and a sister.

Funeral service were held on  August 7, 2023.

Memorial gifts may be made to La Mesa Ministries ( https://lamesaministries.org/giving /) or Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Venango.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Gilbert, AZ.