James H. Gray Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Mayor ofAlbany, Georgia | |
| In office January 2, 1974 – September 19, 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Motie Wiggins |
| Succeeded by | Wm. Larry Bays[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Harrison Gray (1916-05-17)May 17, 1916 Westfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 19, 1986(1986-09-19) (aged 70) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Cleair Ranger |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College University of Heidelberg |
James Harrison Gray Sr. (May 17, 1916 – September 19, 1986) was a Georgia politician and Democratic chairman. He was the founder ofGray Communications Systems, Inc., the editor and publisher ofThe Albany Herald and the mayor ofAlbany, Georgia.
Gray was born inWestfield, Massachusetts. He graduated fromDartmouth College and also studied at theUniversity of Heidelberg. He was a member of theUnited States Army and trained atFort Benning nearColumbus, Georgia inWorld War II before moving to Albany, Georgia in 1946.[2]
In 1946, Gray foundedGray Communications Systems, Inc., and became editor and publisher ofThe Albany Herald, an evening and Sunday paper he purchased in Albany, Georgia. In 1954, Gray launchedWALB-TV, one of the oldest television stations in the state outsideAtlanta.
In 1960, Gray was named state chairman for theDemocratic Party of Georgia. During the1960 Democratic National Convention, Gray led a movement to replaceLyndon B. Johnson as the Democratic Vice President nominee. He also read theSegregationists' Minority Report in opposition to a proposed civil rights platform.[2]
When asked to participate in a televised debate withMartin Luther King regardingsit-in demonstrations, James Gray refused asserting that King had "openly defied Georgia laws." He further opposed theAlbany Movement led by King by purchasing a public swimming pool in order to prevent its use byAfrican Americans.[2]
Gray became a Democratic candidate for governor inGeorgia in 1966. He came in fourth place in the five-person Democratic primary race behind former governorEllis Arnall, state senatorJimmy Carter, and fellow segregationist and the eventual winnerLester Maddox. Gray finished ahead of formerLieutenant GovernorGarland T. Byrd.[3] Governor Maddox nominated Gray to another term as state Democratic party chairman.
Gray ran for and was elected Mayor of Albany, Georgia in 1973. During his tenure, improvements to every aspect of city services were realized. Shopping complexes and large industries came to town as Albany became the centerpiece of South Georgia and adopted the nickname "The Good Life City". With the opening of the Albany Mall in 1976, long-established firms closed their downtown stores. Gray led an effort to revitalize the downtown area by constructing the 10,240-seatAlbany Civic Center, the second largest arena in the state at the time, and by razing an entire city block in the heart of downtown with plans to rebuild it.[4]
Gray died of a heart attack on September 19, 1986, at theNew England Medical Center inBoston, Massachusetts.[2]