Willie Ray is one of the most swashbuckling heroes of Before Gender. He offers us something of a classic “Old West” storyline. Despite Willie’s immense publicity, I could not locate a single photo of him! However, I do have a few photos and clippings I can share for more information.
Willie’s mother, Susan Haley Montgomery Rankin (undated). I would probably look this grumpy, too, if I had 6 children.
Reporters inspired pride in Willie Ray’s escapades by associating him with Tennessee (St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Sep 29, 1893).
There is something profound about the claims of this Norfolk Landmark (Sep 23, 1890) article. The unnamed author argues “nature sometimes doesn’t know her business thoroughly and gets conflicting elements mixed in the same body.” Willie had just turned 17 when this article came out. He was already gaining support among locals only a year into his transition. Saying there was a “mix up” in nature doesn’t seem quite right today, but for the 1890s, this was remarkably supportive.
Was Sanford’s presentation just for economic reasons, as this Texas newspaper claims, or was employment merely an excuse to transition? Evening Messenger, Jan 16, 1893.
