Kenneth J. Gray
Encyclopedia
Kenneth James Gray was a U.S. Representative
from Illinois
.
Born in West Frankfort, Illinois
, Gray attended the West Frankfort and Pope County elementary schools and graduated from Frankfort Community High School
. He was owner of Gray Motors, West Frankfort, Illinois
from 1942 to 1954. A certified pilot, he operated an air service at Benton, Illinois
, 1948 to 1952. During the World War II, he served from January 1943 as a crew chief with the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa. He served with the combat engineers of the Fifth Army in Italy. He returned to the Twelfth Air Force and participated in combat over southern France and central Europe until discharged as a first sergeant in December 1945. He was one of the founders of the Walking Dog Foundation for the Blind. He is a licensed auctioneer.
Gray was elected as a Democrat
to the 84th
and to the nine succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1955, until his resignation December 31, 1974. He was known as the primary backer of converting Washington, D.C.
's Union Station
into the National Visitor Center
. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1974 to the 94th Congress
.
Gray was elected as a Democrat
to the 99th
and 100th Congresses
(January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1989).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1988 to the 101st Congress
. He is a resident of West Frankfort, Illinois
. Also an amateur magician, in 1958 he appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show "To Tell The Truth".
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
Born in West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 8,182 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-History:...
, Gray attended the West Frankfort and Pope County elementary schools and graduated from Frankfort Community High School
Frankfort Community High School
Frankfort Community High School is a public high school located in West Frankfort, Illinois. The campus is located in a city setting on West Frankfort's east side...
. He was owner of Gray Motors, West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 8,182 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-History:...
from 1942 to 1954. A certified pilot, he operated an air service at Benton, Illinois
Benton, Illinois
Benton is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,087 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.- History :...
, 1948 to 1952. During the World War II, he served from January 1943 as a crew chief with the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa. He served with the combat engineers of the Fifth Army in Italy. He returned to the Twelfth Air Force and participated in combat over southern France and central Europe until discharged as a first sergeant in December 1945. He was one of the founders of the Walking Dog Foundation for the Blind. He is a licensed auctioneer.
Gray was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 84th
84th United States Congress
The Eighty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1955 to January 3, 1957, during the third and...
and to the nine succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1955, until his resignation December 31, 1974. He was known as the primary backer of converting Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
's Union Station
Union Station (Washington, D.C.)
Washington Union Station is a train station and leisure destination visited by 32 million people each year in the center of Washington, D.C. The train station is served by Amtrak, MARC and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail services as well as by Washington Metro subway trains and local buses...
into the National Visitor Center
National Visitor Center
The National Visitor Center was an ill-fated attempt to repurpose Washington, D.C.'s Union Station as an information center for tourists visiting the United States Capitol and other Washington attractions...
. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1974 to the 94th Congress
94th United States Congress
The Ninety-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1975 to January 3, 1977, during the administration...
.
Gray was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 99th
99th United States Congress
The Ninety-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1985 to January 3, 1987, during the fifth and sixth...
and 100th Congresses
100th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President: George H.W. Bush * President pro tempore: John Stennis - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader, Democratic Conference Chairman, and Democratic Policy Committee Chairman: Robert Byrd...
(January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1989).
He was not a candidate for renomination in 1988 to the 101st Congress
101st United States Congress
The One Hundred First United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1989 to January 3, 1991, during the first two...
. He is a resident of West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort, Illinois
West Frankfort is a city in Franklin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 8,182 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.-History:...
. Also an amateur magician, in 1958 he appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show "To Tell The Truth".