Oral history with William G. (Bud) Gray

              Oral history with William G. " Bud" Gray
F341.5 . M57 vol. 728
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Biography
William G. " Bud" Gray was born in Beat Five, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, just south of Starkville, on December 27, 1914. His parents ran a dairy farm, and his father served as supervisor of Beat Five for about forty years. He attended a consolidated school in Crawford, Lowndes County, and high school in Artesia, where he played football. He made all- state junior college tackle while at Holmes Junior College. Transferring to Mississippi State University, Gray was captain of the football team and played tackle. That year, State won All- Southeastern Conference honors. Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies and physical education. Though he signed a contract with the New York Giants, he never reported to play.
In 1940, Gray began his law enforcement career by joining the Mississippi Highway Patrol. He received his training at Camp Shelby. In his early years in the Patrol, Gray transported Mississippi's portable electric chair to execution sites. In 1948, he became the first inspector of the newly- organized Hattiesburg District ( District 7) of the Highway Patrol. From 1964 to 1968, Gray was sheriff of Forrest County, and from 1964- 1986, he served on the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The new Highway Patrol Offices were named for Gray in honor of his years of service.
He escorted many famous figures including General George S. Patton on a visit to Camp Shelby and such Mississippi political figures as Governor Theodore Bilbo and Governor Paul Johnson, Jr. Gray also talks about the large state funerals of Bilbo, Johnson, and Senator Pat Harrison.
Gray was active in Mississippi public life during years of traumatic events and immense change. He was in charge of the highway patrolmen who were assigned to keep the peace when James Meredith attempted to register at the University of Mississippi in 1962, and he was Forrest County sheriff during the voter registration campaign in Hattiesburg in 1964.
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