[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 129 (Thursday, September 26, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1381-E1382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




BILL GRAY TRIBUTE--DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH BILL AND ANDREA GRAY FROM BILL 
                             AND CAROL CLAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. WM. LACY CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 26, 2013

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, Bill Gray was very special to many people. 
Andrea, you were gracious enough to share Bill's special talents with 
Carol, me, and indeed many others around the world.
  I am sure that thousands had the privilege enjoyed by Carol and me of 
really getting to know this unique individual and benefited by the 
association. We have met hundreds of persons whom we are certain they 
too can relate the kinds of stories that still linger with us about the 
good times experienced with him. He was not only a remarkable, affable 
individual but had a gift for touching many lives in a very special 
way.
  We in the Congressional Black Caucus knew or suspected that he was 
going to be something exceptional by the ``attention'' he generated 
before we ever met him. He won the Democratic Primary by an 
overwhelming margin and had just coasted to victory in the general 
election when CBC members requested an urgent meeting with Norman Lear, 
producer of ``All In The Family.''
  However, our meeting was not to commend him for highlighting the kind 
of insidious raw, racist views exposed in his portrayal of the Archie 
Bunkers of America but to prevent him from maligning black members of 
congress in making fun of one of us. The session was painful because 
Lear had been a supporter of the CBC from its inception and was a 
personal friend of several members.
  The meeting was to discuss his publicly announced plan of another 
television weekly. It would caricature an African American as a buffoon 
who was just elected to congress from Philadelphia. Although each CBC 
member believed in the right of free expression and free speech, the 
contentious encounter was necessary because the collateral damage done 
to the image of the few black members in Congress, would have been 
devastating.
  Lear presented his side and contended that working on the concept 
started long before Bill Gray's election. But he was not persuasive. It 
was obvious to us in the Caucus what the negative impact of the show 
would be when viewed nationally. He shared with us some of the scenes 
scheduled for showing. They were horrible and certain to be interpreted 
by a substantially naive white public as factually representative of 
black elected officials.
  After more than a hour of back and forth, it was obvious to Parren 
Mitchell that nothing was being resolved. He rose and announced in 
departing that his intention was to organize a nationwide boycott of 
Mr. Lear's production. The issue was resolved quickly as Norman Lear 
stated, ``I intend to announce upon leaving this session that the show 
has been cancelled.''
  Norman Lear continued to be a supporter of the Caucus and the 
organization's agenda.
  Immediately after Bill was sworn into office, he began displaying the 
natural leadership abilities that eventually led him to become the 
first African American elected to leadership positions in the U.S. 
House of Representatives.
  You and Bill became good friends with Carol and me. You guys were the 
ones that introduced us to the great seafood dining provided by the 
famous Bookbinder's Restaurant in Philadelphia. It was a great evening 
and a real learning lesson from you and the master storyteller.
  Hey! What about those great parties at your house! You reigned as 
Queen and little Billy as the Crown Prince-in-Charge of all Operations. 
Everybody knew who ran that shop and it wasn't some ole big city 
professional politician.
  How about the televised show that Bill and I did with Charlie Rose, 
to discuss my recently published book ``Just Permanent Interests'' It 
documented the history of black members of Congress from 1870 until 
1992.
  But the after show was the best. Bill and I went to get a drink to 
celebrate a great T.V. appearance. I ordered a beefeater martini with 
two olives. Bill told the waiter to cancel my order and bring two 
bombay sapphire martinis with lemon peels and very dry.
  He guaranteed that I would like it. If not, he said that he would let 
me pay the tab. Bombay sapphire martini became my drink of choice from 
then on.
  Martha's Vineyard in August capped many summers for us. The whole 
gang from the east coast all the way down to Florida usually showed up. 
Do you remember that great tennis match between Bill and James (Jim) 
Brannon? It was a close, hard fought contest that went on and on.
  As an aside, Bill Giles was in the stands cheering his favorite 
player on to victory. At one point it was him shouting, ``come on 
Bill''. The next, it was ``Jim, my man, you can do it''. Giles was 
determined to be on the winning side, no matter whom that might be.
  You knew Bill Giles always with a winner.
  Speaking of Bill Giles--he was a great guy with hundreds of friends 
and a heart as big as a 747 airbus. He donated heavily to charitable 
organizations, and raised more in fundraising events. One of his 
favorite fundraising events was The Evening of Elegance dinner that 
through the years raised more than a million dollars for the United 
Negro College Fund.
  Once Bill Gray was invited as featured speaker at the ``Evening's'' 
gala affair held at a prestigious ballroom in Manhattan. Somehow there 
was a mix up in communication and Gray was not informed that it was a 
formal affair.
  Giles was a stickler for procedure and had never permitted anyone, 
regardless of his check size to enter without tuxedo and black tie. His 
stern rule presented a chaotic situation of some embarrassing 
proportion. However, I happened to have brought an extra formal shirt 
and black tie. Bill was the same size as I. He wore the shirt and tie 
under his usual dark blue suit and nobody knew the difference.
  Bill Gray gave a fantastic speech. Bill Giles was impressed and 
showed it as he presented him with a check for $120,000 for the United 
Negro College Fund.

[[Page E1382]]

  Carol and I are still talking about the congressional trip that Bill 
organized and invited members of the CBC to travel with his CODEL. You 
and Bill were wonderful, gracious host and hostess. We saw the Mideast 
in style with that old gang of ours in the Congressional Black Caucus.
  The Pyramids in Egypt and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem had special 
meaning to us. Who could ask for more history in one region? But there 
was more--sitting with President Hosni Mubarak at his home in 
Alexandria and meeting with Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Tel Aviv.
  Sailing down the Nile. Shopping in the ancient markets. Meeting with 
the Knesset. Seeing the Dome of Rock, the 3rd holiest of spot of the 
Muslim world where Mohammad allegedly ascended into heaven.
  The Israelis and Egyptians watching the CODEL led by Bill and you 
were left in a wonderland. The warring factions paused while going to 
the Torah and Koran to answer, ``What kind of threat is this band of 
desperadoes raiding our land?'' The invading ``posse'' included such 
noted rabble-rousers as Charlie and Alma, George and Modean, Bill and 
Carol, Ed and Gwen. Jehovah and Allah, Abraham and Ishmael were in awe 
at the sight of such celebrities.
  An eerie silence fell over the land. All hostilities ceased as the 
delegation rushed into the restaurants, markets and shops splurging 
U.S. Aid on receptive merchants. There was a great calm even though 
none laid down their arms. But it was obvious that Bill and Andrea had 
brought a temporary peace to the Mideast.
  How can Carol and I forget my 50th birthday celebration sailing down 
the Potomac on a very large yacht? There was Bill donned in a naval 
officer's dress jacket, including a captain's garrison hat. It was 
almost an official outfit except his chest was only filled with 
imaginary combat medals.
  As usual, he was the life of the party, giving orders and telling old 
salt's tales about the adventures at sea.


                      THREE DEGREES OF SEPARATION

  I introduced Bill to Perry Jones, the first black captain with Pan 
Am. He later became a captain with Delta Airline when Pan Am went out 
of business. Jones was a co-founder of the Organization of Black 
Airline Pilots (OBAP).
  Perry and Bill became close friends. Perry invited Bill to speak at 
an annual convention jointly sponsored by OBAP and the Tuskegee Airmen.
  Talk is usually about 5 degrees of separation but the more I meet 
people the more I believe it is now only 3 degrees. I find that people 
have more in common than thought and if the conversation lasts long 
enough a personal relationship is established that neither knew 
existed.
  In this one case, I had a conversation with Bill years later. It 
might have one of the last ones we shared. I happened to mention being 
in the first church he pastored after finishing theology school. I told 
of meeting the minister in Montclair, New Jersey, at the Union Baptist 
Church.
  Of course he asked under what circumstances and I responded at the 
funeral of a friend's mother. He remembered her and inquired who was my 
friend. When I said Perry Jones, he was stunned, replying, ``I have 
known him all these years and he never mentioned his mother was a 
member of my old church.''
  In closing this short journey, Carol and I would like to reference a 
poem by Bob Schieffer that surely was written with Bill in mind. He 
wrote,

     Yes, the Pearly Gates had two lines--first class to the left, 
           everybody else on the right . . .
     I didn't see a bold face name . . .
     But the gate keeper knew all their faces . . .
     He was on first name basis
     With those he waved through heaven's door . . .
     The second line was mighty long,
     Cheaters, schemers, lying lovers,
     A creep, a con, an operator.
     This line has not moved in years.

  It must be of great comfort for you to know that Bill Gray didn't 
have to show ID. He had a special place in line right up front. The 
gates automatically opened upon his arrival. He was escorted into the 
Promised Land by a delegation of distinguished freedom fighters. The 
entourage led by Martin and Rosa included Tip, Barbara and Shirley. 
There stood Frederick, Harriet, and Eleanor. Abe, Harry, and Lyndon 
were nearby. Of course who would omit Garrison, and Sumner?
  A host of others who fought the good fight for equal rights and human 
dignity made up the multitude of well-wishers.
  Bill traveled the gold paved streets as cheering crowds chanted, 
``Well done. Well done my son.''
  Yes, there were a few big named celebrities, but the vast majority in 
the chorus singing Hallelujah--Glory Be To God were custodians, 
secretaries, school teachers, Pell Grant students, welfare recipients, 
Nobel Peace Prize winners, truck drivers, minimum wage workers, and the 
list goes on and on with the hardworking poor, underfed children from 
numerous third world countries, and neglected ghetto residents 
constituting a major part of the welcoming party.
  Bill Gray was so honored because he was a minister who believed that 
God' grace was meant to exist on both sides of the River of Jordan. He 
was a leader who followed the recommendations of the greatest prophet 
of all time as outlined in His Sermon on the Mount.

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