taught mathematics, economics, and government. He became president of Lamar on June 1, 1942. He was president of Lamar College from 1942 through 1951 with time off to serve in the Navy during World War II. He returned in the 1945–46 school year. After the war Gray worked alongside Texas Senator and Lamar Alumnus Jack Brooks to win four-year senior college status for Lamar, a goal that was realized in 1951 with the creation of Lamar State College of Technology. In 1972 Gray retired from First Security National Bank choosing to return to the president's office at Lamar University. During Gray's second term the university celebrated various improvements such as increases in enrollment and scholarships, creation of new bachelor's and master's degree programs, construction of the Mary and John Gray Library, dedication of the Speech and Hearing Center, and the opening of the Mamie McFaddin-Ward Health Science building. Gray left office a second time in 1977. Gray became director of the Brown Center of Lamar University and accepted an appointment by Governor William Clements to a Special Committee on Higher Education Financing. In 1981 Local business and civic leaders honored him with the creation of the John Gray Institute a Lamar University center for the mutual advancement of business, labor, and industry. References External links 1907 births 2002 deaths Heads of universities and colleges in the United States Lamar Cardinals football coaches Lamar University alumni Rutgers University alumni University of Texas at Austin alumni People from Beaumont, Texas People from Matagorda County, Texas 20th-century American academics