Knox-Kennebec-Franklin County ME Archives Obituaries.....GRAY, Carl Raymond May 9, 1939
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Bill Boggess william-boggess@webtv.net February 20, 2006, 12:09 pm

Colorado Springs Gazette, May 10, 1939


(transcribed 02/20/06) 

Copy courtesy of Colo Sprgs Public Library 

           ------------ 

    COLORADO   SPRINGS   GAZETTE 

  Wednesday May 19, 1939   p 9, c 3 

              ---------- 

    C R GRAY, RAIL 
          EXECUTIVE DIES 

            ------------ 

    Resigned Vice-Presidency of
      Union Pacific Year Ago: 
        Had Relatives Here 

            ---------- 


      WASHINGTON, May 9 (AP) -- A heart ailment caused the death today of Carl R
Gray, 74, whom youthful enthusiasms for railroading carried him to top positions in
the industry. 
      Gray was vice chairman of the Union Pacific railroad, whose presidency he
resigned more than a year ago. He was found dead in bed by his secretary, Chris
Rossworm. 


        ***************************** 
Carl R Gray, vice chairman of Union Pacific railroad who died suddenly in a
Washington, D C hotel Tuesday night, was brother-in-law of the late Dr W W Flora of
Colorado Springs. Mr Gray was married to Dr Flora's sister. 

      Mr Gray had visited in Colorado Springs frequently in years past. He was
former president of the Union Pacific railroad. 
     ******************************* 


      Two sons, Russell Gray of Wellesley, Mass. and Carl R Gray, Jr of St Paul,
Minn were with their father on a visit here. He lived in New York. 

      Gray was born September 23, 1867 at Princeton, Ark. the son of a mathematics
teacher at the University of Arkansas. Because he appeared to be in weak health Gray
ended his formal education with preparatory school and began working at the
Fayetteville, Ark station of the Saint Louis and San Francisco railroad. [located on
property formerly owned and next door to Gray's home, with first train arriving 8
June 1881] 

    Money was no immediate object. 
Gray got no salary, but instead paid a telegrapher [W P McNair] $5 a month to teach
him the trade until qualified as a relief operator. [1st paid job at Rogers, AR, 20
Mar 1883] 

      From that post he advanced quickly and became a division superintendent; at
the age of 30. Subsequently Gray became president of Spoken, Portland and Seattle
line and the Oregon electric railway in 1911, president of the Great Northern line
in 1913, president of Western and Maryland in 1914 and president of the Union
Pacific in 1920. 

      His interest in better railroading grew with the years and made him a leader
in development of streamlined trains [Feb 1934, U P's 1st on U S soil] and fast
freight service. 

      Mrs Harriette Gray, the widow was honored as the "American Mother of 1937" by
the Golden Rule Foundation of New York. A third son surviving is Dr Howard K Gray of
Rochester, Minn.


Additional Comments:
Summer home, "Gray Rocks" (1919-1940) at Pleasant Point, Cushing, Knox county, Maine

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/me/knox/obits/gray8ob.txt

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