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Longest Running Almanac Editor In History

September 18 marks the anniversary of the birth of Ray Geiger, the former editor of the Farmers’ Almanac. Ray became the sixth editor of the Almanac in 1933, shortly after graduating from Notre Dame.

Ray assumed the editor's job with a such dedication and enthusiasm that he even found a way to do his editorial work through the war years, while he was stationed in the Philippine Islands, New Guinea, and Australia.

In addition to editing the Farmers’ Almanac, Ray also proved to be its champion promoter. He traveled the country going from radio to TV, including seven appearances on the Today Show, Mike Douglas, Art Linkletter House Party, David Lettermen Show, Good Morning American and many, many more. Art Linkletter called Ray “The most interviewed man in America,” which, in effect, increased the circulation of the Farmers’ Almanac from an 85,000 to over six million.

In 1949, the rights to the Farmers’ Almanac and Almanac Publishing Company were purchased by Ann and Ray Geiger, who maintained the editorial and publishing responsibilities, but had Geiger Bros, the nation’s largest family owned and managed promotional products distributor, do the production. In 1955, the Almanac Publishing Company moved from Newark, New Jersey, to its current office in Lewiston, Maine.

In 1994, upon completion of his 60^th consecutive edition, Ray passed the editorial reins onto his son, Peter, who had been serving as Associate Editor for 15 years. Ray's 60-year tenure makes him the longest-running almanac editor in American history. He died on April 1, 1994.