Chef Ra (born James Wilson) was many things, the least of which is a legend. Internationally he's known as an advocate and cook. Here in East Central Illinois he's remembered and known for even more. Maybe the first Black student president of Urbana High School, a classmate and co-conspirator of his who edited an underground muckraker zine would go on to author one of the earliest Village Voice articles on hip hop on one end of the decade, and on the other land a gig a High Times and offer Ra a monthly column. Chef Ra escaped Babylon around Christmas of 2006. His cultural legacy continues with Roots Rock Reggae, a weekly radio program on WEFT he founded at the station's origin. Beside's WEFT's digital homages, this will grow into the history of record.
He was a powerful local influence in the easing of racial tensions through the 70s, 80s, and 90s through rational discourse and an earnest search for, and inspiring in others, an empathetic understanding of those of all races.