Kenneth Gray 1937-1997
Martinsville – Kenneth W. Gray, 60, died of heart failure in the Morgan County Hospital ER., Martinsville, on Monday, November 3, 1997 at 8:49 p.m.
The funeral will be at the Martinsville Christian Church, Martinsville, Thursday at 11 a.m. with Dr. Larry Kuntz officiating. Interment will be at the New South Park Cemetery, Martinsville.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Costin Funeral Chapel, 127 South Main St., Martinsville, and Thursday at the church from 10 a.m. until the service.
He was born on April 8, 1937 in Petersburg to Randall and Dorothy (Drew) Gray. His father preceded him in death while his mother survives in Petersburg. He married Terri Holland on June 1, 1985 and she survives.
Mr. Gray had been a teacher and coach for the past 38 years at Washington High School, Edwardsport High School, Vigo High School, South Knox High School, Martinsville High School, Vincennes University and Texas Christian University.
In 1968 he took the Washington Hatchets basketball team to the semi-state, an impressive run at the time. In 1971, his Hatchets basketball team ran into bad luck and lost the first round of the sectional tournement to the Loogootee Lions 54-47. Members of the class of 1971 on the team were David Abel, Tim Armes, Charles Chapman, and Doug Lemmon. Mr. Gray was reknown for his basketball shooting form and skill, and Tim Armes once witnessed Mr. Gray making 96 straight free throws before missing.
Mr. Gray graduated from Washington High School in 1955 and was on the basketball team. He was a 1957 Vincennes University and 1960 Oakland City College graduate, also receiving his Masters Degree from Indiana State University. Mr. Gray played basketball for the Vincennes Trailblazers basketball team and in his career there was the first to score 2,000 in his two years with the team. After a year playing basketball at Louisana State University during the 1957-58 season, he continued his college studies and basketball playing at Oakland City College where, as a starting guard, he helped lead the Mighty Oaks team to their first and only 32-team NAIA tournament finals in 1960.
In 2017, Mr. Gray was inducted into the Greater Evansville Basketball Hall of Fame for his efforts as a player and a coach.
He had attended the First Christian Church in Martinsville.
Surviving are: his mother, Dorothy Gray Willis, Petersburg; his wife; a son, Mark Gray, Vincennes; a step-daughter, Rachel Kiechle, Washington D. C. and two grandchildren. (Nov. 3, 1997)
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From the 1970 & 1971 WHS Yearbooks: Kenneth Gray; Government, History, Economics, Elementary Athletics, Head Basketball Coach, Golf Coach, Sponsor of Varsity Club.
Oakland City College B.S. Indiana State University M.S.
Kenneth Gray, Number 20, 6 foot guard