Program for the Groundbreaking of the R.A. Gray Building In Tallahassee, 1973

Groundbreakings--Florida--Tallahassee

State Archives of Florida, Series S65

1973-11-07

programs

eng-US

Text

s65_b008_f48_01

Late 20th-Century Florida (1968-2000)

Tallahassee (Fla.)

Leon County (Fla.)

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Politics And Government

R A Gray Building (Tallahassee, Fla)

Florida. Division of Archives, History, and Records Management

Museum of Florida History

Florida State Library

Florida. Governor (1971-1979 : Askew)

Leon High School (Tallahassee, Fla.)

Florida. Department of State (1971-1974 : Stone)

Gray, R. A. (Robert Andrew), 1882-1975

Beach, Cecil P. (Cecil Prentice), 1927-

Williams, Robert, 1919-1983

Askew, Reubin O'D., 1928-2014

Stone, Richard, 1928-

GROUNDBREAKING R.A. GRAY, ARCHIVES, LIBRARY AND MUSEUM BUILDING NOVEMBER 7, 1973 [Embossed seal with text: GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA . IN GOD WE TRUST]

Robert Andrew Gray, 14th Secretary of State of Florida, was born August 2, 1882, at Cairo, Georgia. Mr. Gray attended Florida public schools, South Florida Military College (afterwards consolidated in the University of Florida), and Georgetown University. He has a LLD. degree from Southern College at Lakeland. He served as a Member of the House of Representatives in 1911 from Gadsden County. Subsequently, he was Assistant State Auditor, Executive Secretary to Governor Park Trammel, Private Secretary to U.S. Senator Trammell and Assistant State Comptroller before being appointed Secretary of State for 30 years. The Honorable R.A. Gray served in Florida government for 50 years. EVENT: Groundbreaking for the R.A. Gray Archives, Library and Museum BUILDING DATE: Wednesday, November 7, 1973 TIME: 2:00 p.m. PLACE: The parking lot immediately south of Lafayette Street, between Boulevard and Bronough Streets. Program Leon High School Band Master of Ceremonies -Secretary of State Richard (Dick) Stone Introductory Remarks -Cecil Beach, Director, Division of State Library Services, Florida Department of State Special Presentation to Honorable R.A. (Bob) Gray Leon High School Band Address and Ground Breaking -Governor Reubin O'D. Askew, Governor of Florida

R. A. Gray's (1882-1975) affiliation with the state government of Florida began in 1903 when he served as a clerk for the 1903 legislative session. In 1910, he represented Gadsden County in the legislature. Except for his sojourn in Washington as Senator Park Trammell's personal secretary and his army service in World War I, Gray lived and worked in Tallahassee for the rest of his life. He worked alternately for the State Treasury, the Comptroller's Office, and the Motor Vehicles Division. When Senator William Igou resigned as Secretary of State, Gray was appointed on August 12, 1930, to serve out his term. He then ran for the job himself and won, eventually serving his state in this capacity for 31 years. He resigned in 1961, but remained active in church and social groups. R.A. Gray died in 1975.