Roger Ray was born on February 26, 1922, in Yonkers, New York. Roger married Dorothy M. on December 27, 1983, and they had four children: Kaaren Ray, Mary R. Hoyt, Robin Ray, and Vivian R. Bratton.

Ray was enlisted in the United States Army from 1940 to 1970.

Ray obtained a master of science degree from the United States Military Academy. Ray then earned a master of art degree in electrical engineering from New York University.

Jerry Eppenger was born in 1945 and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1953. His father worked at the Nevada Test Site and his mother owned her own restaurant. The family lived on Las Vegas' Westside, where he often hung out at Smokey's Pool Hall.