THE ADVANCE REPORTER
Thursday, April 20, 1967
Spotlight On...
TOM J. GRAY
Tom J. Gray will celebrate his 75th birthday May 8. A native of
Scott County he was born in 1892 at old Gibson south of Bates where he
grew up. He attended school at Bates and completed a business course at
Tyler Commercial College, Tyler, Texas. He began working for the Kansas
City Southern railroad in 1911. He and Mrs. Gray were united in marriage
February 9, 1913 and made their home in Bates until October 31, 1919,
when they moved to Waldron where Mr. Gray was Depot Agent for the K.C.S.
railroad until he retired in March of 1957 after 43 years with K.C.S. He
and Mrs. Gray have lived in their present home 46 years March 7 of this
year and reared a family of five children, three girls Mrs. Edna Harrison
of Amity; Mrs. Cordelia Matthews of Mt. Ida; and Mrs. Jean Starnes of
Little Rock; two boys, I.T. (Buddy) of Waldron and Tom, Jr. of
Fayetteville, N. Carolina who is serving at present with the armed
services in Vietnam. They have 17 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
Mr. Gray set quite a record as Mayor of Waldron, having served in this
capacity for 15 years, being elected the first time to office in 1923
serving 2 years; elected again in 1930 serving 5 - one year terms. Elected
the 3rd time in 1950 when he served 4 - two year terms. He retired from
the Mayors office in 1958. His hobbies are fishing, hunting and baseball -
a sport he now enjoys watching on television.
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