Ray McCallum

Raymond Dale McCallum (March 17, 1958 – April 27, 2025) was an American karateka and kickboxer who competed in point karate and full-contact karate during the late 1970s and early 1980s. A five-time world champion, he was ranked among the top tournament fighters in the United States for much of his career and was named Black Belt magazine's Competitor of the Year in 1979.

Early life

McCallum was born on March 17, 1958, in Dallas, Texas, to Thomas Harold McCallum and Maxine Case. He attended Bryan Adams High School in Dallas.

Career

McCallum's name first appeared in national martial arts publications in 1974, when Black Belt reported on the Southwest Karate Championships in Dallas, where he won the brown belt lightweight division. Later that year, competing as a brown belt, he won the brown belt lightweight division at the Mardi Gras National Championships in New Orleans. In 1976, now a black belt, he was runner-up in the heavyweight division and placed second in forms at Demetrius Havanas' Regional Karate Championships in Dallas.

By 1977, McCallum had become the top-rated light-contact black belt in the United States, compiling 20 straight tournament victories, including wins at the Houston Karate Olympics, the United States Karate Championships, and the Arlington Pro-Am. Louisiana instructor Rod Prejean said of him: "Ray McCallum has to be number one across the board in the Texas-Louisiana area. He has won everything in this region." a selection the magazine acknowledged as controversial given Vitali's victories that year. He was inducted into the Diamond Nationals Hall of Fame in 1990.

Professional titles

In July 1980, McCallum captured the Professional Karate Association (PKA) United States Middleweight Championship (165 lb / 74.8 kg), defeating Glenn McMorris in July 1980. He lost the title to Rodney Batiste on March 14, 1981, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He lost the title to John Moncayo on July 16, 1983, in New York. His improvisational "freestyling" approach was controversial among traditionalists but popular with sport karate fans. Prouder's manager, Bernie Krasno, later wrote to Black Belt alleging that McCallum had used racial slurs against Prouder, a claim McCallum denied.

His feud with Steve "Nasty" Anderson began at a Pro-Am Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, when Anderson attempted to throw McCallum off the stage. · Larry Carnahan placed him at No. 9, praising his "unpredictability and versatility." · Pat Worley placed him at No. 7, noting he "might be the most experienced since he has competed in point competition for a decade."

McCallum was inducted into the Diamond Nationals Hall of Fame in 1990.

Personal life

McCallum was an avid motorcyclist who preferred riding his Harley-Davidson across the country over flying. He also enjoyed hiking, camping, hunting, skiing, and sailing.

Death

Raymond McCallum died on April 27, 2025, at age 67. His funeral was held on May 5, 2025, at New Hope Funeral Home Chapel in Sunnyvale, Texas, with burial at Long Creek Cemetery.