Jack Gray, who as the head coach guided Airline to the 1967 Class AAA state football championship, died Thursday in Marshall, Texas. He was 85.
In addition to the 1967 title, the last football state championship won by a Bossier City school, Gray led Airline to the 1972 Class AAAA championship game where they fell to an undefeated Neville team 6-0.
Gray earned many honors throughout his career as an educator and coach. He was the 1967 Class AAA Coach of the Year and the 1972 District 1-4A Coach of the Year. He also earned the same honor in Texas District 14-4A in 1975 and 1979.
He retired as the assistant assistant superintendent for the Marshall school system in 1997 and was the headmaster of Trinity Espiscopal in Marshall for two years before retiring again.
A native of Shelbyville, Texas, Gray was a football and baseball player at Marshall High School, graduating in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55 and was stationed in Verdun, France.
After finishing college at Centenary College, he was an educator and coach at Lincoln Parish and Bossier Parish. After his stint at Airline, Gray returned to Marshall High and coached for five years before becoming the athletic directory and a school administrator.
Gray’s niece, Becky Gray, is an assistant principal at Parkway. He is survived by his wife, Mimi, of Marshall; his brother, Bill Gray and his children of Bossier City; and his son, Gary Gray and wife Robin of Farmerville.
Funeral services will be Saturday at 3 p.m.at Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall. Interment will be held at Colonial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Downs Funeral Home in Marshall.
— Staff Reports, newsroom@bossierpress.com
