View source for Kenneth J. Gray

{{Short description|American businessman and politician (1924–2014)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Kenneth J. Gray
| image               = Kenneth J. Gray.jpg
| office1             = Member of the <br> [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] <br> from [[Illinois]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 1985
| term_end1           = January 3, 1989
| predecessor1        = [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]]
| successor1          = [[Glenn Poshard]]
| constituency1       = [[Illinois's 22nd congressional district|22nd District]] (1985-1989)
| term_start2         = January 3, 1955
| term_end2           = December 31, 1974
| predecessor2        = [[C. W. Bishop]]
| successor2          = [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]]
| constituency2       = [[Illinois's 25th congressional district|25th District]] (1955-1963) <br>  [[Illinois's 21st congressional district|21st District]] (1963-1973) <br> [[Illinois's 24th congressional district|24th District]] (1973-1974)
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1924|11|14}}
| birth_place         = [[West Frankfort, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2014|07|12|1924|11|14}}
| death_place         = [[Herrin, Illinois]], U.S.
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = Gwendolyn June Croslin (1927–1995)<br/>Margaret "Toedy" Holley-Gray
| children            = 3
| caption             = Gray in 1987
}}

'''Kenneth James Gray''' (November 14, 1924 – July 12, 2014) was an American businessman and politician.  He was a veteran of [[World War II]], and represented [[Illinois]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1955 to 1974, and again from 1985 to 1989.

==Early life and education==
Born in [[West Frankfort, Illinois]], Gray attended the West Frankfort and Pope County elementary schools and graduated from [[Frankfort Community High School]].<ref>WSIL-TV, [http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Former-Congressman-Ken-Gray--266930161.html Former Congressman Ken Gray Dead at 89] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725164712/http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Former-Congressman-Ken-Gray--266930161.html |date=2014-07-25 }}, July 13, 2014</ref>  At age 13 Gray started a business, Gray's Roller Rink at which he performed almost every job alone, from floor manager to concession stand cashier to janitor.  At age 16, he became an auctioneer, and at age 18 he became the owner of the Gray Motors car dealership, which he operated until 1954.<ref name="caldwell2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.duquoin.com/article/20140713/news/701240722/|title='We've lost a giant'|date=July 13, 2014|website=Du Quoin Evening Call}}</ref>

==World War II==
[[File:Eisenhower d-day.jpg|200px|thumb|left|General Eisenhower addresses soldiers preparing for D-Day assault.  According to Gray's biographers, he is the soldier in visored cap (not helmet) at far left.]]
In January, 1943 Gray enlisted in the [[United States Army Air Forces|Army Air Forces]] for [[World War II]].<ref>U.S. House of Representatives, [https://books.google.com/books?id=RUk4z1xt77IC&pg=PA178-IA671 Congressional Record: Remarks of Rep. John Shimkus], Volume 154, Part 10, July 9, 2008, page 14505</ref>  He served with the [[Twelfth Air Force]] in [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|North Africa]], with the [[combat engineer]]s of the [[United States Army North|Fifth Army]] in [[Italy]], and again with the Twelfth Air Force in [[Southern France]] and elsewhere in Europe.<ref>Reuters, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ken-gray-idUSKBN0FI0ZL20140713 Former U.S. Congressman Ken Gray of Illinois Dies at 89], July 13, 2014</ref>  Gray was an aircraft crew chief and attained the rank of [[First sergeant#United States Army|first sergeant]] before being discharged in December 1945.<ref>Carbondale Southern Illinoisan, [http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/voice-of-the-southern/ken-gray-recognition-is-long-overdue/article_6fb9ad57-b1c4-5435-b3e5-9136becb8612.html Ken Gray Recognition is Long Overdue], April 8, 2006</ref>

According to the authors of ''Pass the Plate'', a 2009 biography of Gray, he was at the [[RAF Greenham Common|Greenham Common]] air base in June, 1944 and was assigned as [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]'s driver when Eisenhower met with Company E, [[502nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|502nd Infantry Regiment]] shortly before the unit boarded planes and departed for the [[Normandy landings|assault on Normandy]].  The authors also indicate that Gray can be seen in the well-known photo of Eisenhower speaking with soldiers including [[First lieutenant#U.S. Army.2C U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force|First Lieutenant]] Wallace C. Strobel.<ref>Maxine Pyle and Marleis Trover, ''Pass the Plate: The Legend & Legacy of United States Congressman Kenneth J. Gray'', 2009, page 63</ref>

Gray's awards included the [[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] and [[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Medal]].<ref>Jim Muir, Carbondale Southern Illinoisan, [http://thesouthern.com/news/with-honors-ken-gray-gets-wwii-medals/article_73e75944-4548-5715-a114-18efd3614a6c.html With Honors: Ken Gray Gets WWII Medals], November 12, 2001</ref>

==Post-World War II==
After the war Gray was active in the [[American Legion]], and was commander of the Southern Illinois region.  In addition he served as Vice President of the Illinois [[United States Junior Chamber|Jaycees]], and he credited these experiences with giving him the contacts and name recognition to mount a race for Congress.<ref>Marleis Trover and Maxine Pyle, Carbondale Southern Illinoisan, [http://thesouthern.com/news/opinion/editorial/guest/ken-gray-knew-how-to-help-southern-illinois/article_dbdbb790-8b95-5d56-84e7-f9e592ea8f3e.html Ken Gray Knew how to Help Southern Illinois], April 15, 2008</ref><ref>Alton Evening Telegraph, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1855955/ Rep. Gray To Receive SIU Award], February 17, 1968</ref>

Gray also completed training as an airplane and helicopter pilot and operated an air service at [[Benton, Illinois]] from 1948 to 1952.<ref>Eugene P. Trani, Paul Simon Institute, [http://paulsimoninstitute.siu.edu/_common/documents/simon-review/simonreview21.pdf The Man and the Land: The Politics of Paul Simon and Southern Illinois, 1950-1973], 2010, page 51</ref>

In 1950 Gray campaigned for a seat in the U.S. House.  He lost the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nomination to [[Kent E. Keller]], who lost the general election to incumbent [[C. W. Bishop]].<ref>Illinois Secretary of State, [https://archive.org/stream/officialvoteofst1950illi#page/20/mode/2up Official vote of the state of Illinois cast at the primary election held on April 11, 1950], page 21</ref><ref>U.S. Government Printing Office, Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 1950, 1951, page 8</ref> Gray opted not to run again in 1952.<ref name="caldwell2014" />

In 1953 Gray was one of the founders of the Walking Dog Foundation for the Blind, a charitable organization to provide guide dogs to individuals who are blind or visually impaired.<ref>Harrisburg (Illinois) Daily Register, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/7245493/ Articles of Incorporation Which Have Been Filed with the Secretary of State], September 23, 1953.</ref>

==Congress==
Gray was the successful Democratic nominee against Bishop in 1954 and won election to the [[84th United States Congress|84th Congress]].<ref>{{cite news |date=September 23, 1971 |title=C. W. Bishop 81; Served in House |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/09/23/archives/u-w-bishop-81-served-in-house-representative-and-manager-of-its.html |work=New York Times |location=New York, NY}}</ref>  He was reelected nine times, and served from January 3, 1955, until his resignation on December 31, 1974.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 13, 2014 |title=Former U.S. congressman Ken Gray of Illinois dies at 89 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ken-gray/former-u-s-congressman-ken-gray-of-illinois-dies-at-89-idUSKBN0FI0ZL20140713 |work=Reuters |location=London, United Kingdom}}</ref>  In Congress, Gray eventually decided to stand out from his peers by adopting out of the ordinary clothing and hairstyles, and became known for his flamboyant appearance, including [[Perm (hairstyle)|permed]] hair dyed bright blonde or red, and unusual attire, such as white sport coats and shoes, bright suits, and wide, colorful patterned bow ties.<ref>{{cite news |last=De Guzman |first=Katherine |date=July 14, 2014 |title="Prince of Pork" Ken Gray Dies At 89 |url=http://www.chinatopix.com/articles/4074/20140714/prince-pork-ken-gray-dies-89.htm |work=China Topix |location=New York, NY}}</ref> In a [[deadpan]] joke frequently repeated by [[Glenn Poshard]], when Poshard met [[Jim Wright]] in 1989 and introduced himself as Gray's successor, [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker]] Wright joked about Gray's appearance by looking the conservatively dressed Poshard up and down and saying "I didn't know you could buy a pinstriped suit in southern Illinois."<ref name="caldwell2014" />

Gray was known as the primary backer of converting [[Washington, D.C.]]'s [[Union Station (Washington, D.C.)|Union Station]] into the [[National Visitor Center]] for the [[United States Bicentennial]].<ref name="time102582">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953582-1,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829080443/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953582-1,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 29, 2010 | title=In Washington, D.C.: Last Stop for Union Station | author=Maureen Dowd | magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] | date=1982-10-25| author-link=Maureen Dowd }}</ref>  The center was open in time for the 1976 Bicentennial celebrations, but was plagued with poor design and workmanship, and cost overruns.  It was closed again after the Bicentennial, and in the late 1980s it was redeveloped again to serve as a train station and retail center.<ref>Rachel Kaufman, Elevation DC, [http://www.elevationdcmedia.com/features/25yearanniversary_unionstation_092413.aspx Union Station Marks 25 Years: A Look Back], September 24, 2013</ref>

He was also well known as an advocate of federal spending for his district, and used his post as a senior member of the [[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Public Works Committee]] to obtain approval of projects including interstate highways, dams, housing, and the [[United States Penitentiary, Marion|Marion Penitentiary]].  Dubbed the "Prince of Pork" for his securing of over $7 billion for projects in his area,<ref name=Loney-Gray>{{cite news|last1=Loney|first1=Jim|title=Former U.S. congressman Ken Gray of Illinois dies at 89|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ken-gray-idUSKBN0FI0ZL20140713|access-date=14 July 2014|work=Reuters|date=13 July 2014}}</ref> Gray countered by pointing out that the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|Army Corps of Engineers]] estimated that the dam that created [[Rend Lake]] saved hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses by limiting damage during floods of the [[Big Muddy River]], saying "If that is pork, pass me the plate, because I'll take another heaping serving."<ref name="Former Congressman Gray dead at 89">Becky Malkovich, Carbondale Southern Illinoisan, [http://thesouthern.com/news/local/former-congressman-gray-dead-at/article_3f86b446-0a9a-11e4-9b0c-0019bb2963f4.html Former Congressman Gray dead at 89], July 13, 2014</ref>

Gray was an amateur magician and performed for civic groups and youth organizations in his district.  In a 1956 House speech on the creation of the proposed [[Interstate Highway System]], Gray carried a bouquet of red roses to the lectern to illustrate the "rosy" prospects for the road network as originally conceived.  As he described the lobbyists and special interests who were "killing" the program piecemeal, Gray dramatized the point by snapping flowers off each stem of the bouquet until all the blossoms were gone.  Then, as Gray reached the conclusion of his speech—that the lobbyists were going to fail and that the prospects for the Interstate Highway bill looked "rosy" again—white roses bloomed from the bare stems, and Gray earned an ovation from his colleagues.<ref>Arnold Sawislak, United Press International, Jasper (Indiana) Herald, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/31415367/ Congressman's Hobby Can Bring The House Down], April 12, 1962</ref>  Another example of Gray's abilities came during a private show, when Senator [[Estes Kefauver]] and he successfully performed the [[Levitation (illusion)|body levitation]] trick using Senator [[J. Allen Frear Jr.]] as the subject.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/31415367/ Congressman's Hobby Can Bring The House Down]</ref> In 1959, Gray appeared on the TV game show ''[[To Tell the Truth]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ttttontheweb.com/ttttnighttimeguide.html |title=1956-67 Episode Guide: "To Tell The Truth", CBS Nighttime Series |last=Akers |first=Marshall |date=2013 |website=To Tell the Truth on the Web}}</ref>  Two panelists -- [[Polly Bergen]] and [[Tom Poston]]—correctly guessed that Gray was a member of Congress, auctioneer, and magician, but the other two panelists -- [[Ralph Bellamy]] and [[Monique van Vooren]]—did not.<ref>{{YouTube|fyzIUUdIa58|Kenneth Gray's appearance on ''To Tell the Truth''}}</ref>  In 1966, Gray appeared as a guest challenger on the TV game show ''[[I've Got a Secret]]''.  Introduced as a magician and pilot, he successfully stumped the panel, which did not guess that he was a member of Congress.<ref>Mt. Vernon (Illinois) Register-News, [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/369254/ Panel Misses Ken Gray's Secret], November 22, 1966</ref>

Gray resided on a houseboat while serving in Congress.<ref>Richard Phillips, Chicago Tribune, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140720120245/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-08-15/news/8801220894_1_lame-duck-jerry-rubin-pork Another Lame Duck Smooths His Feathers], August 15, 1988</ref>  In the mid-1970s there were several media accounts indicating that he had employed [[Elizabeth Ray]] and was involved in a lifestyle of wild parties and sex involving members of Congress and Congressional staff members. Gray denied wrongdoing, but was not a candidate for reelection in 1974 to the [[94th United States Congress|94th Congress]].<ref>Emily Langer, Washington Post, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/kenneth-j-gray-former-illinois-congressman-dies-at-89/2014/07/14/937965ec-0b69-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html Kenneth J. Gray, Former Illinois Congressman, Dies at 89], July 14, 2014</ref> He was succeeded by [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]].<ref>Walter D. Ray, Southern Illinois University Library, [http://archives.lib.siu.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=2050&q=paul+simon&rootcontentid=42614 Senator Paul Simon Papers, 1928-2003: Biographical Note], retrieved July 15, 2014</ref>  After leaving Congress, Gray was active in several business ventures, including Ken Gray's Antique Car Museum.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 25, 1984 |title=Congressman Boosts Tourism with Museum |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/86658063/ |newspaper=Herald and Review |location=Decatur, IL |page=41 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Return to Congress==
In 1984 Simon ran for the [[United States Senate]].<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S000423-title=Simon Paul Martin Simon] at [http://bioguide.congress.gov/ ''Biographical Directory of the United States Congress''], retrieved July 17, 2014</ref>  Gray ran again for the U.S. House and was elected to the [[99th United States Congress|99th]] and [[100th United States Congress|100th Congresses]] (January 3, 1985&nbsp;&ndash; January 3, 1989).<ref>Congressional Quarterly, [https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZwaAQAAMAAJ&q=congress+%22kenneth+j+gray%22+1985+1989 Committees in the U.S. Congress, 1947-1992: Committee Histories and Member Assignments], 1994, page 352</ref>  As with the later years of his first tenure, during his return to Congress Gray was commended for using his knowledge of parliamentary procedure and House rules, along with the public speaking and gavel-wielding skills he had developed as an auctioneer to frequently preside over the House, and members of both parties praised him for his tact and fairness.<ref>Congressional Quarterly Almanac, [http://library.cqpress.com/cqalmanac/cqal87-1143786 Presiding: Hazardous Duty], 1987</ref><ref>Chicago Tribune, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2014/07/13/former-illinois-rep-ken-gray-dies-at-89/ Former Illinois Rep. Ken Gray dies at 89], July 13, 2014</ref><ref>David Hawkings, Roll Call, [http://blogs.rollcall.com/hawkings/ken-gray-tribute-man-of-yesteryear/ Congressman of Lost Era Loved Earmarks, Magic Tricks], July 16, 2014</ref>

Gray indicated that he was not running for reelection in 1988 because of a muscular disorder caused by a tick bite that happened while Gray was on a congressional visit to [[Brazil]].<ref>Associated Press News Archive, [https://apnews.com/0a3d44a098427288861a77a40fc2fdcb Illinois Congressman Says He Won't Run In 1988], November 7, 1987</ref>

==Retirement and death==
In retirement, Gray was a resident of West Frankfort, and he opened a museum to showcase his political memorabilia and other mementos and souvenirs.  In 1999, he suffered a stroke that left his speech slurred and his right side paralyzed.<ref>Jeff Smyth, Southern Illinois News (Carbondale), [http://thesouthern.com/news/local/history-in-black-and-gray-ken-gray-again-puts-his/article_f1151a4d-c386-5636-9349-83c07b4296fd.html Ken Gray Again Puts his Political Life on Display in his Relocated Museum], April 27, 2003</ref><ref>USA Today, [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2003-07-31-museum_x.htm Former Illinois Rep's Museum Contains Political Artifacts], July 31, 2003</ref>

He died on July 12, 2014, in [[Herrin, Illinois]], at the age of 89.<ref name=Loney-Gray/><ref name="Former Congressman Gray dead at 89"/>  He was buried at East Fork Cemetery in West Frankfort.<ref>Carbondale Southern Illinoisan, [http://thesouthern.com/news/local/funeral-service-scheduled-for-ken-gray/article_2205b24c-98d7-5d88-8297-79bb122d4d78.html Funeral service scheduled for Ken Gray], July 15, 2015</ref>

==Family==
During World War II Gray married Gwendolyn June Croslin.<ref>{{cite news |last=Langer |first=Emily |date=July 14, 2014 |title=Kenneth J. Gray, former Illinois congressman, dies at 89 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/kenneth-j-gray-former-illinois-congressman-dies-at-89/2014/07/14/937965ec-0b69-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |location=Washington, DC}}</ref>  They were the parents of three children, Diann, Becky, and James; Gray's son James predeceased him.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/kenneth-j-gray-former-illinois-congressman-dies-at-89/2014/07/14/937965ec-0b69-11e4-b8e5-d0de80767fc2_story.html "Kenneth J. Gray, former Illinois congressman, dies at 89"]</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=July 14, 2014 |title=Kenneth Gray Obituary |url=http://www.legacy.com/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=171722459 |newspaper=Legacy.com |location=Evanston, IL}}</ref> Gwendolyn Gray died in 1995; Gray's second wife was the Reverend Margaret "Toedy" Holley-Gray, who survived him.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/>

==Legacy==
The United States court house and post office in [[Benton, Illinois]] is the Kenneth Gray Federal Building.<ref>Pro Publica, [http://projects.propublica.org/recovery/locale/illinois/franklin/dept/4700 2010 Economic Stimulus Funds Expended by General Services Administration, Franklin County, Ill.], retrieved July 17, 2014</ref>

In 2008, the post office in West Frankfort was named for him.<ref>U.S. Government Printing Office, [http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2008-07-09/html/CREC-2008-07-09-pt1-PgH6311-2.htm Congressional Record (House)] Volume 154, Number 112, July 9, 2008</ref>

Also in 2008, Governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] designated Interstate 57 between Mile Post 0 at the Illinois State Line and Mile Post 106 at the [[Marion County, Illinois|Marion]]/[[Jefferson County, Illinois|Jefferson]] County Line as the "Ken Gray Expressway."<ref>Office of the Governor of Illinois, [http://www3.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=6811 Press release: Gov. Blagojevich renames a portion of I-57 “Ken Gray Expressway”], May 8, 2008</ref>

The Ken Gray Scholarship was created at [[John A. Logan College]] (JALC) in 2008.  The scholarship is awarded to JALC students from [[Franklin County, Illinois|Franklin County]] who are in their second year and plan to attend [[Southern Illinois University]].<ref>John A. Logan College, [http://www2.jalc.edu/foundation/pdfs/selected_scholarships.pdf Selected Scholarships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326054535/http://www.jalc.edu/foundation/pdfs/selected_scholarships.pdf |date=2014-03-26 }}, retrieved August 9, 2014, page 6</ref><ref>Anna (Illinois) Gazette-Democrat, [http://www.annanews.com/obituaries/article_1ff09a6c-0de6-11e4-8585-001a4bcf887a.html Obituary, Kenneth J. Gray] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140812021016/http://www.annanews.com/obituaries/article_1ff09a6c-0de6-11e4-8585-001a4bcf887a.html |date=2014-08-12 }}, July 17, 2014</ref>

Gray was the subject of a biography, 2009's ''Pass the Plate: The Legend & Legacy of United States Congressman Kenneth J. Gray'', by Maxine Pyle and Marleis Trover.<ref>Stephen Rickerl, Paul Simon Institute, Southern Illinois University, Gray Reflects on Political Career at Book Signing, February 17, 2010</ref>

In 2016 Gray's wife closed the Ken Gray Museum and donated Gray's collection of memorabilia and other items to [[Morthland College]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Mariano |first=Nick |date=January 28, 2016 |title=Ken Gray museum closes in Marion; collection donated to Morthland |url=http://thesouthern.com/news/ken-gray-museum-closes-in-marion-collection-donated-to-morthland/article_2ac4d8de-5ebb-54e1-9fef-fc934db79727.html |newspaper=The Southern Illinoisan |location=Carbondale, IL}}</ref> The college closed in 2018, and as of September 2018 the whereabouts of the collection is unknown.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Isaac |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Where is the Ken Gray collection? Once housed at Morthland College, late congressman's artifacts are missing |url=https://thesouthern.com/news/local/where-is-the-ken-gray-collection-once-housed-at-morthland/article_2840d90e-1dc3-5610-b276-b8f76297829e.html |newspaper=The Southern Illinoisan |location=Carbondale, IL |ref={{sfnRef|"Where is the Ken Gray collection?"}}}}</ref>  The college's attorney indicated in news accounts that the building the collection was housed in was robbed and an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation was opened.{{sfn|"Where is the Ken Gray collection?"}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{CongBio|G000400}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOAtgR37098 Kenneth J. Gray 1924-2014] at [https://www.youtube.com/ ''YouTube.com''], uploaded by Steve Grzanich, July 14, 2014
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dEJF-QdUUA Family remembers the life of Congressman Ken Gray] at ''YouTube.com'', Giacomo Luca (KFVS-TV), uploaded July 16, 2014
*{{Find a Grave|132752786}}
*{{C-SPAN|1001537}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{succession box|
title=[[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Illinois#House of Representatives|U.S. Representative of Illinois' 25th Congressional District]]|
before=[[C. W. Bishop]]|
after=District eliminated|
years=1955&ndash;1963}}
{{succession box|
title=[[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Illinois#House of Representatives|U.S. Representative of Illinois' 21st Congressional District]]|
before=[[Peter F. Mack Jr.]]|
after=[[Ed Madigan]]|
years=1963&ndash;1973}}
{{succession box|
title=[[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Illinois#House of Representatives|U.S. Representative of Illinois' 24th Congressional District]]|
before=[[Melvin Price]]|
after=[[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]]|
years=1973&ndash;1974}}
{{succession box|
title=[[U.S. Congressional Delegations from Illinois#House of Representatives|U.S. Representative of Illinois' 22nd Congressional District]]|
before=[[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]]|
after=[[Glenn Poshard]]|
years=1985&ndash;1989}}
{{s-end}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 84th–93rd & 99th–100th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Illinois]]}}
{{USCongRep/IL/84}}
{{USCongRep/IL/85}}
{{USCongRep/IL/86}}
{{USCongRep/IL/87}}
{{USCongRep/IL/88}}
{{USCongRep/IL/89}}
{{USCongRep/IL/90}}
{{USCongRep/IL/91}}
{{USCongRep/IL/92}}
{{USCongRep/IL/93}}
{{USCongRep/IL/99}}
{{USCongRep/IL/100}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Kenneth James}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:People from West Frankfort, Illinois]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army Air Forces soldiers]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Illinois]]
[[Category:Helicopter pilots]]
[[Category:American magicians]]
[[Category:Game show contestants]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois]]
[[Category:American auctioneers]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]