John E. Gray
Encyclopedia
John Ellis Gray was an educational administrator, businessman and university president at Lamar University
. In 1972, Gray, along with Otho Plummer, H. C. Galloway, and Dr. Charles P. Turco founded the Lamar University Foundation to fund raise, manage, and administer private gifts in support of Lamar University programs.
In 1973 Gray was inducted into the Cardinal
hall of honor.
in Shreveport, Louisiana
. When Gray began his career as a banker in 1952 he attended Rutgers University
and graduated with a graduate degree in 1954. In 1980 Lamar University Regents recognized Gray's meritorious service, awarding him an honorary doctorate of law.
, Gray became a prominent leader in the Southeast Texas
region and was a member of numerous civic and professional organizations. He wielded much influence in cultural, educational, political, business, and industrial affairs. He worked to promote the development of refineries and petrochemical plants, ports and waterways, downtown business, hospitals, charities, and Lamar University
.
and taught mathematics, economics, and government. He became president of Lamar on June 1, 1942. He was president of Lamar College from 1942 through 1951 with time off to serve in the Navy during World War II
. He returned in the 1945-1446 school year. After the war Gray worked along side Texas Senator and Lamar Alumnus Jack Brooks
to win four-year senior college status for Lamar, a goal that was realized in 1951 with the creation of Lamar State College of Technology. In 1972 Gray retired from First Security National Bank choosing to return to the president's office at Lamar University
. During Gray's second term the university celebrated various improvements such as increases in enrollment and scholarships, creation of new bachelor's and master's degree programs, construction of the Mary and John Gray Library
, dedication of the Speech and Hearing Center, and the opening of the Mamie McFaddin-Ward Health Science building. Gray left office a second time in 1977. Gray became director of the Brown Center of Lamar University and accepted an appointment by Governor William Clements to a Special Committee on Higher Education Financing. In 1981 Local business and civic leaders honored him with the creation of the John Gray Institute a Lamar University center for the mutual advancement of business, labor, and industry.
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
. In 1972, Gray, along with Otho Plummer, H. C. Galloway, and Dr. Charles P. Turco founded the Lamar University Foundation to fund raise, manage, and administer private gifts in support of Lamar University programs.
In 1973 Gray was inducted into the Cardinal
Lamar Cardinals
The Lamar Cardinals refers to the collegiate athletic teams of Lamar University. The inception of the nickname "Cardinals" dates back to the schools name change to Lamar in 1932. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
hall of honor.
Early Life
John E. Gray was born on March 3, 1907, in Buckeye, Texas, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Gray. He moved to Beaumont where he graduated from South Park High School in 1923. From 1926 to 1932 Gray coached the South Park High School Greenies; it was during his tenure that the phrase "Greenie Fight Never Dies" was first used. In 1930 John Gray married Mary M. Hahn.Education
John E. Gray was a member of the first graduating class of South Park Junior College, earning his degree in 1925. In 1936 he earned his B.A. from the University of Texas and in 1938 he earned his M.A. In 1949 he received an honorary doctor of law degree from Centenary CollegeCentenary College of Louisiana
Centenary College of Louisiana is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college in Shreveport, Louisiana. The college is one of the founding members of the Associated Colleges of the South, a pedagogical organization consisting of sixteen Southern liberal arts colleges...
in Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. When Gray began his career as a banker in 1952 he attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and graduated with a graduate degree in 1954. In 1980 Lamar University Regents recognized Gray's meritorious service, awarding him an honorary doctorate of law.
Banking career
In 1952 Gray began a 20 year business and banking career with First National Bank of Beaumont. He served first as vice president and then as president and CEO. At the bank he orchestrated a merger with Security State Bank & Trust Company, thus creating First Security National Bank, the largest financial institution in Beaumont at the time. He was responsible for other important changes like the construction of a new bank building, computerization of bank operations, and creation of a multi-bank holding company, First Security National Corporation. While heading the bank and serving as a director of the Houston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of DallasFederal Reserve Bank of Dallas
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas covers the Eleventh Federal Reserve District, which includes Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico....
, Gray became a prominent leader in the Southeast Texas
Southeast Texas
Southeast Texas is a subregion of East Texas located in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The subregion is geographically centered around the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown and Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan areas...
region and was a member of numerous civic and professional organizations. He wielded much influence in cultural, educational, political, business, and industrial affairs. He worked to promote the development of refineries and petrochemical plants, ports and waterways, downtown business, hospitals, charities, and Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
.
Lamar
At South Park Junior College he coached footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and taught mathematics, economics, and government. He became president of Lamar on June 1, 1942. He was president of Lamar College from 1942 through 1951 with time off to serve in the Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He returned in the 1945-1446 school year. After the war Gray worked along side Texas Senator and Lamar Alumnus Jack Brooks
Jack Brooks (politician)
Jack Bascom Brooks is a retired Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Texas, who served for more than 40 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was defeated for reelection in the 1994 election...
to win four-year senior college status for Lamar, a goal that was realized in 1951 with the creation of Lamar State College of Technology. In 1972 Gray retired from First Security National Bank choosing to return to the president's office at Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
. During Gray's second term the university celebrated various improvements such as increases in enrollment and scholarships, creation of new bachelor's and master's degree programs, construction of the Mary and John Gray Library
Mary and John Gray Library
The Mary and John Gray Library is an eight-story University Library at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. The library is part of the Federal Depository Library Program that aims to provide government documents free to the public. The library serves as the university's primary research and study...
, dedication of the Speech and Hearing Center, and the opening of the Mamie McFaddin-Ward Health Science building. Gray left office a second time in 1977. Gray became director of the Brown Center of Lamar University and accepted an appointment by Governor William Clements to a Special Committee on Higher Education Financing. In 1981 Local business and civic leaders honored him with the creation of the John Gray Institute a Lamar University center for the mutual advancement of business, labor, and industry.