HR0932 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0932 LRB098 20624 MST 57124 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representative are saddened to learn of the death of Lieutenant General D'Wayne Gray, USMC (Ret.) of Falls Church, Virginia, who passed away on March 2, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Gen. Gray was born in Corsicana, Texas on April 9, 1931; he graduated from North Side High School in Fort Worth, Texas and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in 1952; in 1971, he received his master's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and completed the executive program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Gen. Gray's military career spanned 35 years of service to the United States Marine Corps; he began as a private in the reserves and, following graduation from the Naval ROTC program at the University of Texas in 1952, he entered the Marine Corps; he served a combat tour in Korea and 2 combat tours in Vietnam; after being promoted to general, he held a succession of positions at Marine Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., culminating in Chief of Staff; he concluded his service as commander of the Marine Corps forces in the United States Pacific Command, comprising two-thirds of the operating forces of the Marine Corps; he retired in October of 1987 as a 3-star general; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Gen. Gray's has been awarded numerous medals and decorations throughout his service, including the Legion of Merit with a Combat "V" and a gold star in lieu of a second star, the Meritorious Service Medal with a gold star in lieu of a second award, the Air Medal with Numeral 5, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Combat "V", the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V", and the Combat Action Ribbon; and

WHEREAS, Following retirement from the Marine Corps, Lt. Gen. Gray served as chief executive officer of the Montgomery Country Revenue Authority; in 1989, President George H.W. Bush nominated him to be the first Under Secretary for Benefits in the newly created cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs; he remained in that position until November of 1992; he has been a member of the board of directors of the United States Naval Institute in Annapolis, Maryland, a naval publisher, and chairman of its editorial board; he served on the board of directors of The Retired Officers Association and was a member of Maritime Policy Study Group of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Gen. Gray was a member of The Arimatheans, a group of older men who serve as altar boys to assist in Catholic funeral masses for military members; he was a core member of Tertulia, a monthly lunch and discussion group on public policy issues and a member and one of the organizers of Lake Barcroft Village; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Gen. Gray is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joan Gray; his son, Stephen Gray; his daughters, Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Hendrickson and Theresa (Dr. John) Croghan; his grandson, Matthew Hendrickson; and his granddaughters, Rosie, Elizabeth, and Mary; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Lieutenant General D'Wayne Gray, USMC (Ret.), and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lt. Gen. Gray as an expression of our deepest sympathy.