Paul H. Wray was born on February 11, 1946 in Austin, MN. He received his B.S. (1968) in Forest Management and Ph.D. (1974) in Forest Biology from Iowa State University. His professional experience included the positions of Fire Suppression Aid (1966-1967) in Worland, Wyoming; Forestry Aid (1967-1968) for the US Forestry Service; Chief Computer/Fire Direction Center (1968-1970) for the U.S. Army; and Assistant Professor (1974-1975) for Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Wray joined the faculty at Iowa State University as an Assistant Professor (1975-1979) in the Department of Forestry. He was promoted to Associate Professor (1979-1985) and Professor (1985-2006). He retired in 2006.

Wray was a member of the International Society of Arboriculture, Xi Sigma Pi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Sigma Xi, and Epsilon Sigma Phi. He was awarded the Iowa Hoo-Hoo Scholarship (1966), Rice Estate Advanced Curriculum Scholarship (1965-1968), Outstanding Freshman Forestry Student (1965), Xi Sigma Pi (1967), Outstanding Extension Educator Award (1980), Master Woodland Manager Program (1992).

Wray's research interests included woodland and plantation management. He was specifically interested in Black Walnut production, Christmas tree management, and agroforestry.