Me, too - we fished in the back bay of Galveston and off Padre a lot -- I could feel the stinging venom in the water when one was near, so I was lucky and never got stung too bad. Always had Adolph's in the tackle box, of course.
Now, about those sting rays - right now, I'm realizing how lucky I am, as a former scuba diver, to be alive.
They Bite Me,,Roll Rite Over And Start Spittin' ,, ;0)
Did you definitely hang it up for good?