The evening of March 1, 2008 had to be one of the highlights in the life of the Ray Porter family as middle son Travis mounted the awards podium at Value City Arena as the 215-pound champion of the Division III state wrestling tournament for Berkshire High School, completing a 42-0 season.

A little more than two months later, on May 18, the time of triumph was turned to tragedy when 45-year-old Ray Porter died in a car crash. He left behind his wife of 21 years, Beth, sons Dustin and Travis, now both wrestlers in the Division I program at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C., and Tyler, who will be a sophomore at Berkshire.

Nothing will ease the pain of Ray Porter’s loss for his family. But friends of the highly respected former Cardinal High School wrestler and Berkshire wrestling coach will do their best to help take some of the financial burden off the family’s shoulders when they host the “Ray’s Day” benefit Aug. 3 at the Geauga County Fairgrounds at 14343 N. Cheshire St. in Burton.

The benefit is being directed by family friends Jerry Hiscox, owner of the Hiscox Nationwide Insurance Agency in Burton, and John Manfredi. A variety of businesses in Burton, Middlefield and Chardon have joined forces to make the event a success.

“Ray was a great person, a great coach and a great friend,” Hiscox said. “We have all been deeply saddened by his death. We want to do anything we can to help his family in their time of need.”

The activities for “Ray’s Day” are in two phases. At 11:30 a.m. Aug. 3, area motorcyclists will be gathering at the fairgrounds for registration for a memorial motorcycle run. The run will begin at 1 p.m. and travel throughout Geauga County, with plans to return to the fairgrounds by 2 p.m. to allow the motorcycles to be on display for the rest of the day.

“Ray loved his motorcycle,” Hiscox said.

Plans are still uncertain, but it is possible the motorcycle run will be continued.

The second phase of the event has been dubbed the festival. Running from 2-8 p.m. at the fairgrounds, a series of live bands will be providing live music. Among the bands scheduled to perform are The Girls and Switch. A disc jockey will also provide music.

Also to be held will be a corn hole tournament, a variety of carnival games, food booths and other attractions.

Admission to the festival is $10 for adults. Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free. Tickets are available at the Hiscox Insurance Agency and Compliments for Hair, 14606 Park St., Burton, Citgo at 13819 W. Center St., Burton, The Gym at 15980 Valplast Rd., Middlefield, Shade Tree Powersports at 15141 Kinsman Rd., Middlefield and Skeeter’s 19th Hole, 12719 Mayfield Rd., Chardon.

“We’re also holding a raffle for a number of door prizes,” Hiscox, whose son, Brian, was a former Star Beacon Senior Baseball Classic Player of the Game and earned first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors at Otterbein College this year, said. “We going to raffle off Cavs tickets, hot air balloon rides and a number of other things. The hot air balloon will be at the fairgrounds for the festival.”

It is uncertain if the festival will be held beyond this year.

Ray Porter graduated from Cardinal in 1981, where he was a state wrestling runner-up. He went on to Ashland University and earned All-American honors before graduating in 1986.

An employee of Burton-Scott Corp., Porter still found time to coach football, wrestling and baseball at Berkshire. He helped originate the Purple and Gold wrestling and weight room at Berkshire High School. He was also the designer for the baseball field at Kent State University-Geauga Campus.