More Than the Game: Ray Palmer’s Pensacola Sports Legacy
By Zaslea Pitre
Pensacola, Fla. (May 27, 2026) Sports have a way of bringing people together. Few people have witnessed that more closely than Ray Palmer, who is preparing to step down after more than 25 years as president and CEO of Pensacola Sports.
For Palmer, the job has been about the people, the moments and the connections built along the way.
"What has made this job so rewarding is that there are so many moments that remind me why I do this," Palmer said.
Founded in 1955 to manage a single professional golf tournament, Pensacola Sports has grown into a regional force in sports tourism and community programming. Today, events like the Sun Belt Conference basketball championships and the SEC women's soccer tournament draw visitors from across the country, while local traditions continue to anchor the organization's impact at home.
In April 2026, Palmer was inducted into the Sports ETA Hall of Fame, which honors individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the sports events and tourism industry through leadership, innovation and service.
But the moments that have shaped him most are often the ones that unfold subtly.
At the Roger Scott Tennis Center, he recalls meeting adults who tell him their first experience with the sport came through Racquet Roundup, a program created in the early 1980s to introduce children to tennis.
"Kids are picking up a tennis racquet for the very first time," Palmer said. "And then years later, you see them again and they tell you that's where it all started."
He sees that same impact at the finish line of the Double Bridge Run, where participants often cross in tears because they are exhausted, relieved and proud.
"They've overcome health issues, or they've always wanted to run it because it's one of the coolest races in town," Palmer said. "Finishing that nine‑mile course means everything to them."
Another point of pride is the high school all‑star series, which gives student‑athletes one final chance to compete in their careers.
"They know this is their last chance to play," Palmer said. "They're very appreciative, and being part of that moment is incredibly rewarding."
Beyond the events, Palmer said the relationships he built over the years have shaped him just as much as the work itself. He has reported to dozens of board members and chairmen, worked alongside countless staff members and built friendships across the country through the sports tourism industry.
"The relationships are lifelong relationships," he said. "Some of my closest friends now are people I met through this work."
Leadership, he added, also came with challenges.
"Leadership takes some nerve," he said. "You have to make a decision and live with it."
Still, his focus remained on what was best for the organization and the community it serves.
"We want to be an organization that makes Pensacola a better place to live, to work and to raise a family," he said.
As he prepares to retire, Palmer said he hopes Pensacola Sports continues to evolve while staying rooted in the community it serves.
"Pensacola is my home, it always has been and it always will be," he said. "I am looking forward to seeing how Pensacola Sports continues to grow and make a positive impact across our community."
For Palmer, that mission is deeply personal. And judging by various metrics, one might say Palmer has earned Pensacola Sports and the community it serves with the podium spot after decades of competing.
This story was written by Zaslea Pitre for Pensacola Sports.