Garland Gray
Garland Gray (November 28, 1901 – July, 1977, nicknamed "Peck" after Peck's Bad Boy) was a long-time Democratic member of the Virginia Senate representing Southside Virginia counties, including his native Sussex. A lumber and banking executive, Gray became head of the Democratic Caucus in the Virginia Senate, and vehemently opposed school desegregation after the U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 and 1955. Although Senator Harry F. Byrd himself supported Massive Resistance, and preferred Gray over other candidates, the Byrd Organization refused to wholeheartedly support Gray's bid to become the party's gubernatorial candidate in 1957, so J. Lindsay Almond won that party's primary and later the Governorship.
Garland Gray | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia Senate from the 6th district | |
| In office January 12, 1942 – 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Williams Daniel |
| Succeeded by | Edward E. Goodwyn |
| In office January 12, 1948 – January 11, 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Edward E. Goodwyn |
| Succeeded by | Elmon T. Gray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 28, 1901 Waverly, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | July, 1977 (aged 74) Richmond, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Agnes E. Taylor; Frances R. Bage |
| Children | Elmon T. Gray. Mary Wingate Gray Stettinius, Agnes Elizabeth Gray Duff, Mary Gray Farland |
| Alma mater | University of Richmond Washington and Lee University |