Ray Brock(1928-1979)

Born in 1928, Ray Dean Brock was the son of John and Thelma Brock of Hampton City, Virginia. He had an older brother named Bennie. A jack of all trades, Ray worked as an architect, woodworker, shop teacher, and real estate flipper. He would meet his Wife Alice in Greenwich Village in 1962 before settling in Berkshire County Massachusetts to work at the Stockbridge School in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in 1964. It was there, where Ray met Arlo Guthrie, a Student at the school. The married couple purchased a deconsecrated church in Great Barrington, which the couple converted into a residence for themselves and a gathering place for friends and like-minded bohemians. It is here where Ray would eventually invite Arlo and some friends over for Thanksgiving in 1965. As a favor to the couple, Guthrie and his friend Richard Robbins agreed to dispose of the large amount of garbage that had accumulated in the church, not realizing that the local dump was closed for the holiday. Guthrie and his friend dumped their load over a cliff on private property. When Stockbridge chief of police William "Obie" Obanhein was made aware of the illegal dumping, he arrested Guthrie and his friend, and held them in the town jail. This would be the inspiration for Guthrie to write his song Alice's Restaurant. It would become a hit song and later a movie in 1969. Ray Brock was portrayed by Actor James Broderick. At the time of the premiere of the movie, Ray and Alice had divorced and sold the Church where they had lived. Relocating back to Virginia, Ray continued to work as a craftsman and Authored children's books like "Scooters Are Groovy and You Can Build Your Own." published in 1973. Ray would pass away suddenly in 1979 of a heart attack. He was only 50 years old.