[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO GILBERT GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 1997

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Gilbert 
Gray. The death of Mr. Gray on April 9, 1997, was a sad day for all of 
us who knew him. He will be greatly missed, both as a dedicated civil 
rights activist and, as a generous and caring individual.
  Born to a Texas farming family, he moved to California with his wife, 
Alice, in 1945. When the shipyard where he was employed was closed, he 
worked as a janitor at night, and attended barber school and played 
semi-pro baseball during the day. For the next 27 years, he worked as a 
military barber at Bay Area bases.
  When the Grays moved to Santa Rosa, CA in 1952 to raise their nine 
children, it was a segregated town. Mr. Gray devoted tremendous time 
and energy to making the community, and the country, a better place for 
all Americans by fighting for equal rights. After attending his first 
NAACP convention, where he met Martin Luther King, Jr., he cofounded 
the Sonoma County NAACP chapter. He coordinated numerous events to 
protest injustices occurring to African-Americans across the Nation. 
When a local saloon refused to serve African-Americans, he organized a 
successful sit-in to protest.
  Gilbert Gray continually extended himself for the good of the 
community. He was instrumental in establishing the Community Baptist 
Church in Santa Rosa. He also was a member of the Marin City Council 
and very active in the northern California Democratic Party. Along with 
his wife, Alice, he established the Gilbert and Alice Gray Foundation, 
a nonprofit organization that provides funds for students who excel 
academically or at a vocational skill. Despite the many awards and 
honors he received, his proudest moments were spent telling stories 
about his children earning college degrees.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I acknowledge the loss of 
Gilbert Gray. He was a tremendous asset to his community. The 
commitment Mr. Gray exhibited toward civil rights was admired by all 
who knew him. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Alice, and 
their family. I, personally, will miss this wonderful man.

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