There’s a little (BIG!) piece of history restored at Palmetto High School this evening. More than 60 years after graduation, Raymond Klein, Jr., Class of 1959, returned to campus with a heartfelt gift, a hand-painted recreation of the mural he once created on the old gym wall.
“It represented Tigers — we are the Tigers — and everybody who went into the gym saw it. It means pride,” Ray shared. “It tore me up when they tore it down.”
The original mural, painted in the late 1950s, was a beloved symbol of school pride that every student recognized. Though the old gym was torn down around 1997, Ray’s new canvas version once again fills a wall at Palmetto High, bringing back memories for generations of Tigers.
Ray, who now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, made the trip back to Palmetto with help from friends — one who loaned him a truck to transport the artwork, and another who joined him on the journey.
He was welcomed by several classmates: Bonny Limberg Whidden (’59), James Melvin (’59), David Tyler (’60), and Gail Jones (’60). The Tigers laughed, reminisced, and shared stories from their school days, picking up right where they left off more than six decades ago.
Their class bond remains strong. During their most recent reunion — a joint gathering of the Classes of 1959 and 1960 — classmate Jerry Purvis even designed placemats featuring the original image of Ray’s mural, keeping the Tiger spirit alive.
Ray’s life journey has been as colorful as his art. After graduating from Palmetto High, he served in the Coast Guard Reserves, attended St. Petersburg Junior College, and earned a degree in advertising and public relations from Florida State University. He went on to a successful 26-year career with Sears, Roebuck & Co., eventually serving as a district manager in Washington, D.C. Later, he owned three 7-Eleven stores for 13 years before joining a ministry called LOVE, INC (Love in the Name of Christ) — and eventually retiring.
In retirement, Ray reached out to Shari Stinton (Class of 1981), Palmetto High’s Senior School Secretary and proud alum, to make the new mural possible. To thank him for his meaningful contribution, Shari presented Ray with a Tiger swag bag filled with Palmetto gear, including a hat, t-shirt, and more, as a token of appreciation from the school community.
Palmetto Athletic Director Bryan Wilkes was also on hand to greet Ray and his classmates, shaking their hands and personally thanking them for their continued support of the school and its traditions.
When asked how it feels to know today’s Tigers will pass by his artwork, Ray smiled and said:
“Well, I just wanted to replace the original if I could. It meant a lot to a lot of people. So that’s really why I did it. If they had laughed at me, I would have painted it anyway.”
As for this tale, Ray still doesn't know why he was the chosen one to create the original painting all those years ago.
While this new painting may not be the original, it carries the same heart, history, and pride. Thanks to Ray and his classmates, a cherished piece of Palmetto High’s past lives on — inspiring a new generation of Tigers.