Harold E. Gray 1906-1972

GRAY, WICKERSHEIM, CARPENTER, WITHROW

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/12/2010 at 18:34:47

Harold Gray Dies; Ex-Head of Pan Am

Harold E. Gray, former president and chief executive officer of Pan American World Airways, died December 28 of cancer at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York. Mr. Gray lived in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Mr. Gray, one of the original ten pilots, joined Pan Am in 1929, two years after its founding. He flew the jungle and mountain routes over Central America and pioneered and mapped many routes for the airline. He made the transition from pilot to administration in 1947. He served as president of Pan American from 1964 to 1968 when he succeeded Juan Trippe as chairman and chief executive officer. He retired as chairman in 1970.

Mr. Gray was born April 15, 1906, in Guttenberg, Iowa. His father, Otis Elmer Gray, former Postville resident, and Keith Gray, a brother, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife Exa Bell, four grandchildren and three sisters, Mrs. Atherton (Nelda) Wickersheim of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Mrs. Dale (Adelaide) Carpenter of Coon Rapids and Mrs. John (Ethel) Withrow of Stanton, California. Roland Gray, Postville, is a nephew.

Interment was at Greenwich, Connecticut, December 27.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, hand dated 1972, from my mother's obituary collection.
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