By:  Moncrief                                          S.R. No. 900
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
    1-3  recognize the Reverend Robert Boyd Gray, Pastor of the Greater Saint
    1-4  Stephens Missionary Baptist Church, for his 45 years of distinguished
    1-5  service to his congregation; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Throughout his long career Reverend Gray has ministered
    1-7  faithfully to the spiritual lives of countless Christians; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, He has dedicated his life to ministering to the
    1-9  needs of all those who came to him with their concerns, and the
   1-10  beloved pastor has earned the respect and friendship of all whose
   1-11  lives he has touched; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Born in Carthage, Texas, on April 17, 1913,
   1-13  Reverend Gray received his bachelor of theology degree and Honorary
   1-14  Doctorate of Divinity from the College of Natchez, in
   1-15  Natchez, Mississippi; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Well prepared intellectually to serve in his role
   1-17  as pastor, the Reverend Gray is an influential religious leader;
   1-18  he organized and served as pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church
   1-19  from 1943 to 1948; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Dedicated to his vocation, he is a strong defender
   1-21  of the Baptist faith and interested in the development of the church;
   1-22  Reverend Gray organized the New Baptist District Association in 1970;
   1-23  and
    2-1        WHEREAS, Reverend Gray married his wife, Elvera, on
    2-2  November 10, 1930, and is the father of six daughters and three sons;
    2-3  he is the proud patriarch of 35 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren,
    2-4  and four great-great-grandchildren; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, During his ministry, Reverend Gray has been
    2-6  strengthened by the love and support of his wife and their children;
    2-7  now, therefore, be it
    2-8        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
    2-9  73rd Legislature, hereby join the congregation of the Greater
   2-10  Saint Stephens Missionary Baptist Church in commending the
   2-11  Reverend Robert Boyd Gray for his fervent devotion to his church,
   2-12  his fellowman, and his community; and, be it further
   2-13        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
   2-14  him as an expression of the admiration and high regard of the
   2-15  Texas Senate.
   2-16                                 _____________________________________
   2-17                                        President of the Senate
   2-18                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-19                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-20                                 the Senate on May 10, 1993.
   2-21                                 _____________________________________
   2-22                                        Secretary of the Senate
   2-23                                 _____________________________________
   2-24                                          Member, Texas Senate