William H. Gray, III, son of former FAMU president, dies at 71

William H. Gray, III, the son of a former FAMU president, has passed away at the age of 71.

U.S. President Barack Obama praised Gray’s service to the country in a statement released on Tuesday, July 2.

“Bill Gray was a trailblazer, proudly representing his beloved Philadelphia in Congress for over a decade as the first African-American to chair the Budget Committee and to serve as the Majority Whip,” Obama said. “Bill's extraordinary leadership, on issues from housing to transportation to supporting efforts that ended Apartheid in South Africa, made our communities, our country and our world a more just place. Michelle and I extend our deepest sympathies to Bill's family, especially to his wife Andrea and their three sons.”

Gray was the son of former President William H. Gray, Jr.  Under the guidance of President Gray, Jr., FAMU experienced a period of rapid expansion and reorganization. The college obtained an Army ROTC unit and student enrollment grew to more 2,000.

Gray, III was the chairman emeritus of Gray Global Advisors. He represented the Second District of Pennsylvania as a Congressman from 1979 to 1991. During his tenure, he was secretary and vice-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.  He was also the first African American to chair the Democratic Caucus.

According to the Los Angeles Times: “Gray's rise to Democratic whip brought talk of his becoming the first black House speaker and perhaps seeking the presidency. Then, at the peak of his power, he resigned in 1991 to become president of the United Negro College Fund.”

After leaving Congress, he served as the special advisor to the President and to the Secretary of State on Haiti during the Clinton Administration.

Gray served as a Baptist minister of churches in Montclair, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He pastored the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia for 35 years.

  

The late Gray received his bachelor’s degree from Franklin & Marshall College. He earned a master’s degree in divinity from Drew Theological Seminary and a master’s degree in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.