Gray, Gordon, 1909-1982

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Gordon Gray (1909-1982), government official, publisher, and educator. A graduate of the Yale Law School, Gray began his professional career as an attorney with a New York Law firm. In 1935, however, he returned to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to practice law. At approximately the same time, he acquired financial interests in the publishing and broadcasting fields. As operator of radio station WSJS and publisher of the Winston-Salem Journal and the Twin City Sentinel, Gray eventually abandoned the legal profession. As president and publisher of the Piedmont Publishing Company, Gray retained his business interests in publishing and broadcasting throughout his other careers. In 1938, he served as president of the Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina. From 1938 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1947, he was a member of the North Carolina State Senate. A lifelong Democrat, Gray served under every president, Democrats and Republicans alike, from Harry Truman to Gerald Ford. During the Truman years, Gray was Assistant Secretary and later Secretary of the Army. He resigned in 1950 to accept the position as president of the University of North Carolina. However, he remained in Washington, D.C. to study United States foreign economic policies as a special assistant to the President. Also, during his tenure as president of the University of North Carolina, he was director of the Psychological Strategy Board. During the early years of the Eisenhower administration, Gray held positions on several committees and boards including the President’s Committee on International Information Activities and the Atomic Energy Commission’s Personnel Security Board. In 1955, he resigned as president of the University of North Carolina and returned to government service on a full- time basis. Involved in advising the president on international and national security affairs, Gray served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (1955-1957), director of the Office of Defense Mobilization (1957-1958), and Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (1958-1961). After the Eisenhower years drew to a close, Gray became more involved in business activities. He did, however, serve as a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1961 to 1977. During the 1960's and 1970's he was chairman of the board of Triangle Broadcasting Company, chairman of the board of Summit Communications, Inc., and a member of the board of directors of the J.R. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Gray also served as chairman of the board of trustees for the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

From the description of Gray, Gordon, 1909-1982 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10568063

Gordon Gray has had a distinguished career both in the fields of law and public service. He graduated from the Yale Law School in 1933 and he was admitted to the bar of both New York and North Carolina. He served in the North Carolina State Senate (1939-1942), and then entered military service as a private. In 1943, Gordon Gray was commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry and served with Headquarters (HQ), 12th Army Group in Europe. Following the war, he again served in the state senate. From 1947 to 1950, he was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Army, Under Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Army. He accepted the presidency of the University of North Carolina in 1950, and by 1955, he went to the Pentagon where he worked on several presidential assignments.

From the description of Gordon Gray photograph collection. 1933-1960. (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 51866681

Gray (1909-1982) was a lawyer, politican, public servant, newspaper publisher, radio and television station owner, and president of the University of North Carolina, 1950-1955.

From the description of Gordon Gray papers, 1919-1982. WorldCat record id: 25507470

Gordon Gray (1909-1982) was a lawyer, politician, public servant, newspaper publisher, radio and television station owner, and president of the University of North Carolina, 1950-1955.

From the guide to the Gordon Gray Papers, 1919-1982, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)

Government official.

From the description of Reminiscences of Gordon Gray : oral history, 1975. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 86100464

From the description of Reminiscences of Gordon Gray : oral history, 1967. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122376734

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn House, R. B. (Robert Burton), 1892-1987. R. B. House papers, 1916-1973. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf University of North Carolina (System). President. Records of the Office of President : Gordon Gray files, 1950-1955. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Arrival of the Secretary of the Interior, Anchorage International Airport, Alaska ; Carter Lane Burgess, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. ; Medal of Freedom awards to Gray and Flemming, swearing in of Dechert and Sprague, Pentagon National Archives at College Park
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Gordon Gray : a collection of mounted clippings chiefly from North Carolina newspapers through 1971[sic]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Giduz, Roland. Roland Giduz photographic collection, 1947-1970. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Papers Received Since January 10, 1961 Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. UNVEILING PORTRAIT OF GEN. ROBERT E. LEE, WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY, NEW YORK National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interviews with Gordon Gray Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Special Assistant's Subject Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Gordon Gray Papers. 1946 - 1976. Personal Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Karl G. Harr Jr. Papers. 1943 - 1996. Photographs Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Federal Bureau of Investigation Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Gordon Gray [microform] : a collection of mounted clippings chiefly from North Carolina newspapers through 1975. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Gray, Gordon, 1909-1982. Gordon Gray photograph collection. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. National Security Council Subject Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
Gordon Gray Papers Harry S. Truman Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Special Assistant's Chronological Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Special Assistant's Presidential Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Special Assistant's Name Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn David E. Finley papers, 1921-1977 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Gray, Gordon, 1909-1982. Reminiscences of Gordon Gray : oral history, 1967. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Gray, Gordon, 1909-1982. Reminiscences of Gordon Gray : oral history, 1975. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Operations Coordinating Board Administrative Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Operations Coordinating Board Subject Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Hugh Morton Photographs and Films, late 1920s-2006, (bulk 1940s-1990s) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection.
creatorOf Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interview with Members of the Eisenhower White House Staff Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Harry S. Truman Library Oral History Collection. 1960 - 2005. Oral History Interviews. 1960 - 2005. Oral History Interview with Gordon Gray Harry S. Truman Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. National Security Council Policy Papers Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. National Security Council Status of Projects Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. President Harry S. Truman signs unification bill, Washington, D.C. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Norval Neil Luxon Papers, circa 1930-1989 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. Special Assistant's Appointment Books Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer. 1860 - 1985. Motion Picture Films from the Army Library Copy Collection. 1964 - 1980. Middle East action, Beirut, Lebanon National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Carpenter, Donald F. (Donald Fell), 1899-1985. Papers, 1922-1984. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Dwight D. Eisenhower Library Oral History Collection. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Transcripts. 1962 - 1998. Oral History Interview with Gordon Gray Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf General Records of the Department of State. 1763 - 2002. Correspondence Files with Non-State Department Personnel National Archives at College Park
Gordon Gray Papers Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Gordon Gray Papers, 1919-1982 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. National Security Council Briefing Notes Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Gordon Gray Papers. 1946 - 1979. Subject Files Harry S. Truman Library
creatorOf Miller, Joseph G. K. The Joseph Miller papers, 1944-1965. U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center
referencedIn University of North Carolina (System). Board of Trustees. Committee on Inauguration (1950). Records of the Committee on Inauguration, 1950 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn University of North Carolina (System). Board of Trustees. Records of the Board of Trustees, 1932-1972 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Records of the Office of the Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Eisenhower Administration). 1953 - 1961. National Security Council Administrative Files Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Hugh Morton Photographs and Films, late 1920s-2006, (bulk 1940s-1990s) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection.
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bowman Gray School of Medicine. corporateBody
associatedWith Burg, Maclyn, person
associatedWith Carpenter, Donald F. (Donald Fell), 1899-1985. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Democratic Party (N.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. person
associatedWith Finley, David E. (David Edward) person
associatedWith Giduz, Roland. person
associatedWith Hopper, Paul, person
associatedWith House, R. B. (Robert Burton), 1892-1987. person
associatedWith Luxon, Norval Neil, b. 1899. person
associatedWith Miller, Joseph G. K. person
associatedWith Morton, Hugh M. person
associatedWith Morton, Hugh M. person
associatedWith National Security Council (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States. corporateBody
associatedWith Pickford, Mary, 1892-1979. person
associatedWith Piedmont Publishing Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Rogers, Buddy, 1904-1999. person
associatedWith United States. Central Intelligence Agency. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of Defense. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of the Army. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962) corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (System). Board of Trustees. corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (System). Board of Trustees. Committee on Inauguration (1950) corporateBody
associatedWith University of North Carolina (System). President. corporateBody
associatedWith U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith Wake Forest University corporateBody
associatedWith Young Democratic Clubs of North Carolina. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
North Carolina
United States
Winston-Salem (N.C.)
United States
Subject
American newspapers
Government executives
Historic preservation
Hospitals
Intelligence service
Lawyers
Military intelligence
Radio stations
Television stations
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1909-05-30

Death 1982-11-26

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6rb8wfq

SNAC ID: 13080598