Ray Delsman is a nut and berry farmer, but it's horses that have influenced his life most. When he was a youngster Ray was the envy of all his pals as he drove his own pony on a milk route and to school. Through their mutual interest in a riding club the farm man met his wife ' Ky'. Delsman's annual Christmas ride through Hillsboro in a horsedrawn carriage as Santa Clause makes him a popular figure among local youngsters.

Delsman's father was so fond of a team of horses that he chartered a box car to bring them west when the family moved from Nebraska to Oregon. Ray was just three weeks old when the Delsmans came to Washington County. They first lived on the old Jolly farm. In 1910 the ex-Nebraskans moved to the farm on Garibaldi Avenue where Ray still lives.

Not long after this Ray discovered it was nicer to ride than to walk. He and his brother Ollie were given a goat and a small wagon. The boys turned their fun into profit when they started a ' milk route' among their neighbors.

When he was about 10 Ray graduated to a pony and began in earnest to deliver the milk produced by the 10 Delsman cows. He made his early morning deliveries before school. The pony waited patiently in a stall beside St. Matthew's grade school while his master attended morning classes. By the time Ray finished his afternoon deliveries he was tired and would often go to sleep as he began driving home. His mother didn't worry, though. The little pony knew the way and was careful to wait at the railroad tracks.

Delsman served three terms as president of Washington County Westerners. Through the club he met Yona Hall, a Shady Brook girl. Yona, nicknamed ' Ky', shared the berry grower's enthusiasm for riding. They were married in 1946. Following ceremony the couple left the church in Delsman's now-famous carriage. Their favorite wedding candid was taken as they drove down Main Street. An Argus photographer snapped a picture of the couple in front of the Venetian theatre where ' Frontier Gal' and 'Vacation from Marriage' were playing.

Delsman's carriage was used on another memorable occasion when he chauffeured Harold Stassen through Hillsboro during the 1948 presidential campaign. During the war the carriage became the royal coach for the 4th of July Goddess of Liberty. The vehicle is best known for its annual appearance at Christmas when Delsman, dressed as St. Nicholas, drives down every street. Last year when the carriage was equipped with Christmas tree lights and two accordionists Delsman was awarded first prize in the moving vehicle section of the outdoor lighting contest. The committee gave him the award though the farm man had not entered the contest because he 'didn't want to commercialize' his stunt. It was ' just for the kids'. Delsman has been 'Santa' for chamber of commerce children's parties for the past two years.

Though they refuse to force them the Delsmans hope their children, Tim, 2, and Yona Ann, 4-months, will share their love for horses. After some initial shyness husky young Tim's favorite farm animals are the two spotted carriage ponies.

The Delsmans didn't drive their carriage when they went east a few years ago, but they couldn't resist stopping along the way where there were fine horses to be seen. The jaunt also gave them a chance to visit 153 relatives in Wisconsin (there are many twins in the family, Ray says) and a brother and sister in Detroit and Washington, D.C.

Last year Delsman began working as field man for the country assessor's office. He covers the rural area for two or three months of the year. He takes on a few other non-farm activities. For a time the horseman was treasurer of the Tualatin Valley Rodeo association. His name usually appears in committee lists for St. Matthew's parish activities. Because it is 'great for the kids' the civic improvement Delsman would most like to see come into being is a Hillsboro civic swimming pool.