[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 34 (Monday, February 25, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NICK GRAY TRIBUTE

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                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2019

  Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nick Gray of 
Olathe, Colorado, a World War II veteran of Pearl Harbor and 
Guadalcanal Campaign who recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
  Nick is the grandson of Judge John Gray, who took up a homestead in 
the Shavano Valley in 1884, became Mayor of Montrose, and received 
local acclaim for working to get the Gunnison Tunnel built during his 
time as a District Judge. Judge Gray's son, Joe Gray, was Nick's 
father. Nick grew up on the family ranch his grandfather built with his 
mother Addie Hobson, his father, and the rest of his siblings .
  In 1940, Nick left his family's ranch and volunteered to serve in the 
Army. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor with the 25th Infantry Division 
when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. While overseas he built 
roads and bridges on Guadalcanal in the South Pacific and managed a 
crew of 25 natives who had been bombed out by Japanese forces. After 
his service was complete, he used his military education to build his 
ranching operation back home in Colorado and ultimately created the 
Nick Gray Construction Company.
  As a small business owner, he built more than 3,000 miles of power 
line rights-of-way and roads across three states. In 1963, Nick cleared 
220 miles for power line structure sites, building sub-station sites 
and roads from Wyoming to New Mexico. Another one of Nick's major 
accomplishments was building the Purgatory Ski Area near Durango, 
Colorado. Nick built the parking lot, ski course, and by-pass road all 
the way to Hermosa Park. During the 129-day project, he blasted nearly 
40,000 yards of rock.
  Nick married his wife Margaret in June 1946, and they had a son, 
Stephen Gray. Nick and Margaret have two granddaughters, Nicole Lumsden 
and Lezlee Cox, and six great-grandchildren, Keith Lumsden, Stephen 
Lumsden, Sarah Lumsden, Talli Lumsden, Caralea Cox, and Kendyl Cox.
  Madam Speaker, Nick's service to his country, enduring work-ethic, 
and love of family will continue to have an impact on the Olathe 
community for years to come. It is my privilege to acknowledge him here 
today, and express heartfelt gratitude for the important work he has 
done throughout his life. I wish him all the best in his future.

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