A legend went home to glory Wednesday morning, June 20, 2012, after a long illness. Dr. James O. Gray was an accomplished Musician, Educator and Administrator. Being a devoted family man, he provided tremendous guidance as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother-in-law and uncle. He also touched the lives as a friend and mentor to many individuals.
He was the miracle birth son born January 21, 1933 in San Angelo, Texas to Samuel Gray and Mary Lathan Gray.
He received Christ as his Savior at an early age and remained a faithful Christian throughout his lifetime. His last church membership affiliation was with the North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship in Richardson, Texas.
He attended public schools in San Francisco, California. He then relocated to Texas, spending his junior and senior high school years at Lincoln High School in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Gray became a musician in junior high school playing the trumpet with a melodic sound that caught the attention of everyone within listening distance. He was a lead trumpeter throughout his studies at Lincoln High School and Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. He later earned his Masters of Education and Doctorate of Education from Texas A & M University in Commerce, Texas.
He loved being an educator because he enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others. Dr. Gray was an inspiration to countless young minds. He was the kind of man who believed in getting the job done with excellence. He was loving, caring and understanding of others, and he gave his staff members and students a fair and impartial opportunity. He was approachable and encouraged cohesiveness among his team of educators. He believed in the phrase, “we can do it” and worked hard to promote this concept to help others succeed.
Dr. Gray successfully started his career at W. D. Spigner High School in Calvert, Texas and Burnett High School of Terrell, Texas. As Director of Bands, he orchestrated marching bands, concert bands and jazz bands. Booker T. Washington Technical High School and South Oak Cliff High School Marching Bands, Dallas, Texas, reached stardom under his leadership. These marching bands’ performances were of star quality and were well respected and recognized within and outside of the state of Texas.
After his reign as Director of Bands he became interested in administration, accepting a position as Assistant Principal at Clara Oliver Elementary School, and shortly afterwards as the Assistant Principal for Instruction at T.W. Browne Jr. High School, both located in Dallas.
He was appointed assistant director/principal of the Arts Magnet High School at Booker T. Washington in 1976 when the school reopened as a magnet school. He was committed to the career arts program and provided effective leadership in the organization of the Music, Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts Clusters. Under his leadership, the Arts Magnet High School, currently known as Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, became one of the most highly acclaimed and highly recognized arts program in the nation. Both the academic success and the scholarship opportunities for its students are unparalleled by schools of its kind. In recognition for these phenomenal accomplishments the BTWHSPVA staff, students, and community named their Band Hall in his honor.
In 1985, Dr. Gray was the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools in the Fort Bend Independent School District, Sugarland, Texas. In fact, Dr. Gray was honorably mentioned for his active participation in the development of Fort Bend ISD wide Discipline Management Plan. He proposed and developed Fort Bent ISD Alternative School Program, and organized and conducted workshops for Principals and Central Staff Administrators, etc. In 1991, he was the Area Superintendent for District #20 in the Charleston County School District, Charleston, South Carolina. During his tenure there he also proposed and developed an Alternative School Program. His book, How To Create a High School for Performing and Visual Arts was utilized to create a school of this kind not only in Charleston but throughout the nation. He later returned to the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as interim principal in 2001 and in 2003 as Area Superintendent at the Fort Bend Independent School District.
Dr. Gray was a member of many professional organizations, including the American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Musicians, African-American Museum of Cultural Arts Board of Trustees, The Dallas Symphony Association- Board of Governors, Washington-Lincoln Alumni Association, The Smithsonian Institute, Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, 100 Black Men of Charleston, Inc., just to only name a few.
He was also on several committees/workshops in reference to program development/implementation, including the School-Business Partnership Future Quest Committee, Dallas ISD Employee Relations – Appeals Committee, Dallas ISD Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Baseline Curriculum Development Committee at T. W. Browne Jr. High School in DISD; Conducted work shops on “Long-Range Plan of the State Board of Education for Texas Public School Education” for Texas Southern University Educational Administration Staff and Students, and many others too numerous to mention.
He received many awards and recognitions. Among them are the Golden Achievement Award for Outstanding Service to South Oak Cliff High School; Award for Services Rendered to District #20 by the City of Charleston, South Carolina Constituent Board of Trustees; Recognition For Dedicated Service and Loyalty To The Burke High School Band Program As District Administrator and Guest Conductor; and he received recognition for his excellence with band competitions by the University Interscholastic League from Prairie View A & M University; and many more awards and recognitions.
Dr. James O. Gray truly had a rewarding and impressive career, but his life was much more than his career. Dr. Gray lived a life filled with integrity, generosity, compassion, and love for his family and fellowman. He tried to be a friend to everyone regardless of age, education or social status. He was indeed a people person and was as benevolent as one could be-- always opening his heart to help others. He loved life and was always a gentleman. He was warm, kind and forgiving. Of all the contributions he made in life, his highest concern was that of living a life of a Christian, caring and doing for people. He was totally unselfish and modest - often doing the hard work behind the scenes - never a glutton for the limelight, glory or praise. He had an inner strength that enabled him to strive, to overcome, to achieve and to persevere. His quick wit and warm smile will be missed by everyone who knew him, but he will always serve as an inspiration and guiding force in the lives of his family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Jerry Sands, Sr.
He leaves to cherish his memories his loving and devoted wife, Karolyn; two sons, David B. Gray of Dallas, Texas and Marquel Collins-Gray (Joddi) of North Charleston, South Carolina; three daughters, Sandra Sands of Dallas, Texas, Carole Gray of Garland, Texas and Stephanee Gower of Sachse, Texas; fourteen grandchildren, Mark Sands, Jerry Sands, II (Torri), Gregory Newsome (Chiniqua), Brandon Jackson (Jasmine), Eryn Pryor and Darius Gray of Dallas, Texas; Jason Sands (Amy) of McKinney, Texas, Stephen Middleton of Mesquite, Texas, Jaison Poole of Garland, Texas, Kaila Gower, Kendra, Kerra and Jacob Rice of Sachse, Texas, Jada Collins-Gray of North Charleston, South Carolina; nine great-grandchildren, Jacory, Kyla and Lyric Pryor, Jerry III and Jerome Sands, Gregory II and Jalen Newsome of Dallas, Texas, Derrick and Jada Sands of McKinney, Texas and a host of cousins in which he had a relationship comparable to sisters and brothers, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Facts
Born: January 21, 1933
Death: June 20, 2012
Services
Visitation
Wednesday June 27, 2012, 12:00pm - 6:00pm at Lincoln Funeral Home
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Funeral Service
Thursday June 28, 2012, 11:00am at North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship
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