January 5, 1948 – July 6, 2020
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue
FOREST LAKE, MINN. – Longtime Minnesota Aeronautics Director, Raymond J. Rought, 72, of Forest Lake, Minnesota, passed away peacefully July 6, with family by his side.
Rought completed his baccalaureate degree in civil engineering at Michigan Technical University in 1970. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, assigned to the Medical Command Headquarters in Long Binh. Upon his return to the states, Rought joined the Michigan Department of Transportation, Bureau of Aeronautics. He completed his Master of Science Degree in Civil Engineering at Michigan State University in 1978. In 1986, he was named Director of Aeronautics for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, a position he proudly held for 22 years. He retired from MnDOT in 2012.
In 2007, Rought was awarded the Kenneth Rowe Ambassador of Aviation Award in recognition of his contributions to the betterment of aviation nationally through research, education and legislation. In 2011, Rought was inducted into the Academy of Civil and Environmental Engineers at Michigan Technological University. In 2012, he was inducted into the Minnesota Aviation Hall of Fame.
Rought was very active in and dedicated to the aviation community. He was a member of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and served on its board of directors and as chairman. He worked to establish the NASAO Center For Research & Education. He served as president of the Minnesota Aviation History and Education Center, and was a longtime pilot and member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).
Ray Rought was born in Fremont, Michigan to Levirn and Jean Rought who precede him in death, as does his infant sister, Rebecca. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 50 years, Carol; daughters, Marissa (Steven) Sindelir of Sartell, Minn., Alecia (Anthony) Gick of Hampton, Va., and Jennifer (Nicholas) Naschansky of Rincon, Ga.; grandchildren, Noah and Aiden Gick and Nora and Greta Naschansky; brother, Richard (Linda); sisters, Rosemary (Harry) VanderVegte, and Carolyn (Jim) Brown; and his many friends and associates in the aviation community.
