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J. R. Gray

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J. R. Gray
Secretary of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet
In office
January 2008 – November 30, 2010
GovernorSteve Beshear
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byMark S. Brown
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from the 6th district
In office
January 1, 1995 – December 2007
Preceded byRichard Lewis
Succeeded byWill Coursey
In office
January 1, 1976 – January 1, 1989
Preceded byRichard Lewis
Succeeded byRichard Lewis
Personal details
Born
James Rhyman Gray

(1938-07-17)July 17, 1938
near Eddyville, Kentucky
DiedMay 11, 2022(2022-05-11) (aged 83)
Benton, Kentucky
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseYvonne
Children2
Residence(s)Benton, Kentucky

J. R. Gray (July 17, 1938 – May 11, 2022) was an American politician in the state of Kentucky. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1976 to 1989 and from 1995 to 2007.[1][2] He was appointed Secretary of the Kentucky Labor Cabinet in 2008, by governor Steve Beshear and served until his retirement in November 2010.[3][4]

Gray was first elected to the house in 1975 after incumbent Richard Lewis resigned from the house in order to join the executive staff of governor Julian Carroll.[5] In 1988 Lewis ran for the house again and defeated Gray in the May primary election.[6] Gray won election to the house again in 1994 after Lewis did not run for reelection.[7]

Gray completed his journeyman apprenticeship at Youngtown Sheet & Tube in Gary, Indiana. He was employed at the Calvert City B. F. Goodrich. After a few years working at B. F. Goodrich, where he served as a steward & as the Directing Business Agent of the Machinist & Aerospace Workers “IAM,” District Lodge 154 Calvert City for twenty years.[8]

Gray and his wife Yvonne lived in Benton from 1963 until the time of his death. They had two children, Randy and Teresa.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2006OH159 Leg 145 - Louie B Nunn Center for Oral History". kentuckyoralhistory.org. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Interview with J.R. Gray, August 22, 2006". uky.edu. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Kentucky Labor secretary retiring". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  4. ^ "State labor secretary to retire Nov. 30 - Cabinet Deputy named interim chief". The Lexington Herald-Leader. November 24, 2010. p. A5.
  5. ^ "Resigning Legislative Seat". The Lexington Herald-Leader. March 13, 1975. p. 9.
  6. ^ "State Senate, Education Appear to be Big Election Winners". The Lexington Herald-Leader. May 29, 1988. p. D1.
  7. ^ "Few Lawmakers to Face Primary Contest". The Lexington Herald-Leader. May 10, 1994. p. B3.
  8. ^ "J.R. Gray Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information". www.collierfuneralhome.com. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  9. ^ KIRSTEN WALKER (26 May 2022). "J.R. Gray: A loss spanning the state of Kentucky". www.tribunecourier.com. Retrieved 2022-07-23.