James H. Gray Sr.

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This article is about the Georgia politician and businessman. For the Canadian journalist, historian, and author, see James H. Gray. For other uses, see James Gray (disambiguation).
James H. Gray Sr.
Mayor of Albany, Georgia
In office
January 2, 1974 – September 19, 1986
Preceded byMotie Wiggins
Succeeded byWm. Larry Bays[1]
Personal details
Born
James Harrison Gray

(1916-05-17)May 17, 1916
University of Heidelberg

James Harrison Gray Sr. (May 17, 1916 – September 19, 1986) was a Georgia politician and Democratic chairman. He was the founder of Gray Communications Systems, Inc., the editor and publisher of The Albany Herald and the mayor of Albany, Georgia.

Early life

Gray was born in

Fort Benning near Columbus, Georgia in World War II before moving to Albany, Georgia in 1946.[2]

Businessman and politician

In 1946, Gray founded

WALB-TV, one of the oldest television stations in the state outside Atlanta
.

In 1960, Gray was named state chairman for the

Segregationists' Minority Report in opposition to a proposed civil rights platform.[2]

When asked to participate in a televised debate with

Martin Luther King regarding sit-in demonstrations, James Gray refused asserting that King had "openly defied Georgia laws." He further opposed the Albany Movement led by King by purchasing a public swimming pool in order to prevent its use by African Americans.[2]

Gray became a Democratic candidate for governor in Georgia in 1966. He came in fourth place in the five-person Democratic primary race behind former governor Ellis Arnall, state senator Jimmy Carter, and fellow segregationist and the eventual winner Lester Maddox. Gray finished ahead of former Lieutenant Governor Garland 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-seat Albany 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]

Death

Gray died of a heart attack on September 19, 1986, at the

New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Albany Mayors since 1857". Walb.com. April 28, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d Saxon, Wolfgang (September 21, 1986). "James H. Gray, 70, Publisher and a Former Segregationist". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Georgia Official and Statistical Register Collection Items". Digital Library of Georgia.
  4. ^ "Albany". Albany. New Georgia Encyclopedia. March 26, 2005. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
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