Overnight Code: The Life of Raye Montague, the Woman Who Revolutionized Naval Engineering

Overnight Code tells the story of Raye Montague, an ambitious little girl from segregated Little Rock who spent a lifetime educating herself, both inside and outside of the classroom, so that she could become the person and professional she aspired to be. Where some saw roadblocks, Montague only saw hurdles that needed to be overcome. Her mindset helped her become the first person to draft a Naval ship design by computer, using a program she worked late nights to debug. She did this as a single mother during the height of the Cold War, all the while imbuing her son with the hard-won wisdom she had accumulated throughout the years. Equal parts coming-of-age tale, civil rights history, and reflection on the power of education, Overnight Code is a tale about the persistence and perseverance required to forge the life of your dreams when the odds against you seem insurmountable, and shows how one woman refused to let other people’s prejudices stand in the way of her success.

Paige Bowers is a news and features writer as well as the author of The General’s Niece. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia. David R. Montague, the son of Raye Montague, is the director of online learning and faculty mentoring at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and is a tenured full professor of criminal justice.