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Carl
Clifford Howard Gray
Carl Clifford Howard Gray received
a Construction Management Founders Society Lifetime Achievement Award.
Carl Clifford Howard Gray
was born on July 3, 1949 in Glasgow, Kentucky to Lois Howard and James
Norris Gray, the second of six children. Howard would grow up in his
father's footsteps in the construction business and later become the
president of a thriving construction company -- a position that he would
hold for more than 30 years.
Howard began his construction career at the ripe age of 12 when his
father put him to work on one of his job sites. One story says that
the Department of Labor questioned James Norris who responded, "He's
my son. He'll work if I say so."
In 1968, Howard attended Transylvania University where he considered
studying medicine. However, in the early 70's, Howard decided the construction
field was really his calling and transferred to Western Kentucky University.
While at Western, he worked as a draftsman at Frank Cain Architects.
Howard graduated from WKU in 1971 and began working full-time for his
father learning all aspects of the family business. His brother Jim
joined the company on a full-time basis in 1975 after college.
As Howard approached his 23rd
birthday, the family discovered that his father had cancer. He passed
away shortly thereafter at which time Howard became president of Gray.
The date was September 20, 1972. Lois Howard Gray became even more instrumental
in the business, offering not only sound business advice but financial
support as well. Eventually, brothers Franklin and Stephen joined the
family business, Franklin in 1979 and Stephen in 1990.
Along with his brothers, Howard grew the company to become a nationally
ranked construction firm. Gray is ranked 13th among the Top 20 Industrial
Contractors in the U.S. according to Building, Design and Construction
magazine. Gray's customers are from diverse markets including automotive,
distribution and manufacturing. Their customer list includes Toyota,
R.R. Donnelley, Pepsi, USPS, Hitachi, Nestle, the Gap and Dollar General,
just to name a few.
While Howard was president, Gray took a new direction by acquiring its
first company in 1999, Woodford Steel, which became WS Construction.
In 2002 Gray acquired an Anaheim, California-based company, I.C.E. Builders,
Inc. Both acquisitions were strategic moves complimenting Gray's services
and geographical areas.
Gray has been honored with numerous local, state and national awards
including Associated Builders and Contractor's Safety Awards; American
Institute of Architect Design Awards; and National Design-Build Awards
of Excellence presented by the Design-Build Institute of America. In
March 2007, Gray was chosen to appear on the cover of Engineering
News-Record, which featured the story of their 20-year relationship
with Toyota and Gray's quality system.
Howard has served not only his company but the construction industry,
his community and state. He is a former chair of the Kentucky Chamber
of Commerce; has served on the board of directors for Leadership Kentucky;
served as chairman of the board of the Associated General Contractors
of Kentucky; served as board member of the Japan America Society of
Kentucky; served on the national board of directors of The Design-Build
Institute of America, Trans Financial Bank, and served on the Board
of Regents for Western Kentucky University, to name a few.
Today Howard remains involved in the company as chairman of the board
for Gray, Inc., the holding company for all the Gray companies.
Howard is married to Cassandra Henry Gray. They have four children:
Keturah, New York City, N.Y.; Rebekah, Washington, D.C.; Mary Bruce
and husband Timothy, Boston, Mass.; and Carl, a junior at the University
of the South, Sewanee, Tenn.
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