Regular readers of this blog know that I hold the subject of Thursday’s post in very high esteem. I first met Ray Drago in 1979 when I joined the AGMA Helical Gear Rating Committee as it was debating a complete revamp of the basic rating procedure. Even in a room full of “gear giants,” Ray was a notable presence. In the years since, I have come to consider him both a mentor and friend. He and I have worked on several large projects together. I have attended some of the excellent continuing education classes he has graciously conducted all over the country. I think it is fair to say that no one has taught more people about gears than Ray Drago. I never would have considered writing an AGMA technical paper or becoming a consulting engineer without his mentorship. So how did a kid from New York City with no family connections to the gear trade become such an influential engineer and teacher? Tune in Thursday to find out. PS: It was a real hoot to see all three Jeopardy contestants whiff on the Final Jeopardy question on the March 6, 2019 episode. Had they read this blog over the last year or attended one of Mr. Drago’s seminars they would have know that the “gap between two machined surfaces” is “backlash”. PPS: We wish Jeopardy host Alex Trebek all the best in his battle with cancer.