Mr. Hartker is the father of innovative sports medicine at Finneytown. His creative teaching via closed circuit TV in the early 1960’s was ahead of its time.

Ray, after graduating from Withrow High School, played minor league baseball for both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds organizations. He then earned his B.S. from Ohio State and his M.Ed. in Administration from Xavier University. He taught and coached at both Hughes and Withrow High Schools before coming to Finneytown.

From the early 60’s through the late 70’s Ray taught, coached and chaired the Health and Physical Education Department. He established one of the first High School Sports Medicine programs in Ohio. His innovations included several methods of immediate care for injuries, including the ground-breaking use of cryogenic treatments.

This campus legend now resides in Mansfield with his wife Pearl. Their children both reside in Ohio.