In Memoriam: Raymond Quiel
It is with a very heavy heart that we share with you the passing of CSA Director Emeritus Ray Quiel, Quiel Brothers Electric Sign Company. Raymond V. Quiel passed away on July 6, 2017 in San Bernardino, CA. He was 90 years old. Ray was born in Des Moines, IA and traveled to San Bernardino with his mother and 5 brothers when he was 3 years old. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Sturges Middle, and San Bernardino Highschool, was a Navy veteran, founded and co-owned, with his brother Gordon, Quiel Brothers Electric Sign Co and Stardust Roller Rink. Quiel Brothers Signs began operating in 1961 with the erection of a 5,000 square foot facility. Ray Quiel started out with just one employee and one truck under the name Electric Sign Service. That beginning paved the way for a multi-generation family business that has left its very visible mark in thousands of places across the Inland region.
He also owned the Brass Key with his wife. He was heavily involved with the California Sign Association, National Sign Association, and World Sign Association. Ray was a longtime member of the CSA Board of Directors, having served as president in 1982; he was elevated to serve as a Director Emeritus in 1994.
Ray was involved in so many CSA activities it would be hard to enumerate all of them; the one activity he took the greatest pride in was being the person who managed the publication of the yearly CSA Directory for many, many years.
Another of his many achievements was the first McDonald’s signs at the original location on E street. Ray traveled to the four corners of the world and enjoyed vacationing with his wife, family and friends. Ray was a longtime member of the Elks and Arrowhead Country Club. He is preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret L. Quiel, brothers Lawrence, Marvin, Gordon and Norwald. He is survived by his brother Robert, sons Larry (Tammy), Jerry (Mary) and Gary (Joanne) of San Bernardino, grandchildren, Ashley, Michael, Kristina, Kimberly, Erik and 7 grandchildren.
Ray Quiel took this picture of the Mcdonald brothers in front of the first Mcdonalds. The photo was later donated to the Smithsonian.
A viewing will be held July 20, 2017 at 5-7:00 p.m. with a funeral service on Friday July 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. both at Bobbitt Memorial Chapel 1299 E. Highland Ave San Bernardino, CA 92404. A graveside service will follow at Montecito Memorial Park in Colton. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Ray’s honor to Inland Empire Lighthouse for the Blind, 359 E. Parkcenter Circle South San Bernardino, CA 92408. A form is available here: Inland Empire Lighthouse for the Blind
About CSA Team
CSA’s Executive Director, Roy Flahive, has worked within the sign industry for more than 50 years. He served an apprenticeship in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), owned his own sign company for almost 30 years and he is well-known and highly respected in the sign industry, having served on numerous boards, including those of the International Sign Association (ISA), San Diego Area Lighting Advisory Council, Arizona Sign Association, Western States Sign Council, San Diego Mayors Sign Code Task Force, and UL’s Industry Advisory Committee. Notably, Flahive has twice been elected President (Chairman of the Board) of CSA and has served over 30 years on that board.
Cheryl Flahive, CSA’s Director of Member Services, has worked within the sign industry for over 33 years; twenty of those years, as vice president of a sign company in southern California. She has served in various administrative roles, from finance to project management, and is dedicated to helping CSA members at all levels.
The CSA Communications Committee, made up of committed industry leaders, works in a behind the scenes capacity, to keep CSA members educated and informed.