TODAYS BLACK WORKING MAN RAY SCHUFFORD

BY: LORRIE IRBY JACKSON (REVISED BY: CALEB TURNER)

CCompassion, flexibility, and a willingness to problemsolve—these particular traits not only serve Dallas’ Ray Schufford in his life as a retired firefighter but also in his quest to serve the community as an author, mentor, public speaker, and ordained minister. A former Chaplain for the City of Dallas, Fire and Rescue Department, Schufford carries nearly three decades of experience as a veteran First Responder.

“What Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said about coming together as one and making the world a better place, that’s what I always strive for,” Schufford stated during a recent phone interview with BWM.

A prolific author, Schufford has penned five books—Bells Beneath My Pillow: The Fireman’s Chronicle (2006), Bells Beneath My Pillow 2: The Rookie Experience (2021), Take It Off: Unmasking the Hero in You (2012), Raymond, You’re My Hero (2010), and Choosing Your Passionate Life Now (2014). He has earned numerous awards for his work on and off duty, including a 2002 Hometown Hero Award, 2005 Salute a Texan Award from Fox 4 News, a 2006 Community Service Award from the Dallas Fire and Rescue Department, and various other recognitions from WFAA-TV, Citibank, Bank of America, the Texas National Guard, the Dallas Mavericks and prominent churches across the nation.

“Whether it’s boys without father figures or newly hired firefighters asking about what to expect on the job, I’m always eager to help out,” says Schufford. His dedication extends to his nonprofit, 2 the Next Shift, which he founded soon after his retirement in 2021. The organization ¬provides first responders with support, solutions, and a plan for success at work and home. Schufford also runs a mentorship program, Mentoring Brother 2 Brother (mb2b.org), which pairs disadvantaged young men with solid male role models.

“My friend was a teacher and I didn’t have children at the time,” Schufford says, “So we started by using office space at Concord Church in Dallas on every second Saturday of the month. We get calls on a weekly basis and there’s now a waiting list for the boys, but we’re always accepting applications for new mentors. It can be harder to find those because some men feel like they have too much baggage to help out, but you can always pull something out of there to say, ‘I wouldn’t do that. Let me tell you why from my own experience.’”

For those not yet old enough for one-on-one mentoring, Schufford visits schools as a motivational speaker and sometimes in his “Shoe-Perman” gear, sharing tales from characters appearing in his children’s book, Raymond, You’re My Hero. “For me, it’s been easy to be a servant in my mentoring organization, with the other heroes on my staff, sharing stories

that my own late mother shared with me. It’s great to get with the kids and give them those messages.” A University of Central Missouri graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, and a Deacon at Concord Church, Schufford draws on his education, faith, and personal experience to inspire young minds.

Pushing forward through setbacks is also a subject Schufford has had plenty of experience with. The sale of his long-running business, Nice Look Barbershop, the dissolution of a marriage, and the experience of co-parenting two young women – all has given him valuable insight into overcoming challenges.

“All good things come to an end, you gotta roll with the punches and keep fighting,” says Schufford. “Disappointments are gonna happen, you know? You can’t just lay down and stay down, it’s about striving to do more and become better.”

Currently residing in Mansfield, Texas with his wife, Schufford is a proud father of three adult children. He’s brought the babershop back in a new form post-COVID with Ray’s Nicelook Mobile Lounge. Schufford continues to seek out new ways to serve his community – especially through his primary mission and passion of supporting those who are dealing with the challenges of the First Responder lifestyle.