[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 143 (Friday, November 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1737-E1738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF MAYOR MILBURN GRAVLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 9, 2012

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I stand to 
honor the life of Milburn Ray Gravley, the former mayor of Carrollton, 
Texas, who passed away on October 13, 2012, after courageously battling 
cancer for much of this year.
  Milburn was born on January 3, 1931, and was the youngest of nine 
children. He was a great-grandson of Alexander Wilson Perry, one of the 
founding landowners of Carrollton, Texas. Like his ancestors before 
him, Milburn dedicated his life to rigorous and faithful service of his 
community. He served on several civic boards and committees, including 
the city council. He was also a member of the Carrollton Lodge #1400 in 
Carrollton, Texas, and the James A. Smith Lodge #395 in Farmers Branch, 
Texas. Milburn was a 33 Mason. Most notably, Milburn served as the 
mayor of Carrollton for twelve years, from 1987 until 1994 and again 
from 1996 to 1999. Later in his life, and up until his passing, he was 
the Chairman of the Trinity River Authority, and a member of the 
Valwood Improvement Board, the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, and the 
Old Downtown Carrollton Board. Multiple bodies duly recognized 
Milburn's exceptional and enduring service over the years, and he was 
even named Metrocrest Citizen of the Year in 1989.
  Milburn married and is survived by Sylvia McInnish Gravley. Together 
they had a daughter, Lynda, and two sons, Gary and Alan. He is survived 
by them and also his six grandchildren, Cristi, Casey, Lori, Matthew, 
Nicole, and Christopher; four step-grandchildren, Richard, Ashley, 
Kristen, and Preslee; and four great-grandchildren, Madison, Sydnee, 
Reece, and Juliet. Milburn was preceded in death by two of his brothers 
and four of his sisters. Two more brothers, Joe and Wilton, survive 
him.
  It is a great professional honor for my son, Matthew, and I to have 
held the same office that Milburn did as mayors of Carrollton, Texas. 
Yet, the greater and more profound honor and joy was to have known 
Milburn personally. I think that I speak for the entire Dallas-Fort 
Worth Metroplex community when I say that he will be deeply missed.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 24th Congressional District of Texas, I 
ask all my distinguished colleagues to join me in honoring the great 
life and passing of Mayor Milburn Ray Gravley.

[[Page E1738]]



                          ____________________