Who is Ray Midge from The Dog of the South and what is their importance?

Ray is a young man living in Arkansas with wife Norma. He is supported by the charity of his father while he pursues a teaching degree in mathematics. It is his dream to become a high school mathematics teacher. School is put on hold, however, as he launches out to find Norma, who has run away with her former husband. Tracking the couple by the use of his credit cards, Ray travels through Mexico, ending up in British Honduras, now called Belize, following a series of mishaps along the way and the company of Reo Symes. Ray is able to find the family farm of Guy Dupree and assumes that Norma is there, but his attempts to see and speak with her are thwarted by Dupree and his shotgun. Ray experiences a series of frustrating events, culminating in participation in storm control activities and assistance in the local hospital following the same storm. There he finds Norma and nurses her back to health, apparently believing that they can reconcile and return to their former lifestyle. Back home, however, Ray continues his "professional student" role, and Norma once again leaves.