GRAY, William "Billy" ~ Graceland's Hall of Fame

GRAY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/26/2013 at 07:48:01

HALL of FAME

William "Billy" Gray
Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa

William "Billy" GRAY graduated from Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala, Ohio in 1987. He was a star tight end and defensive back on the football field while holding his own on the basketball court.

In his years playing for the Warriors, GRAY amassed many honors in both football and basketball. On the court, those honors include a two-time team leader in field goal percentage at 53% ('85-'86) and 49% ('86-'87), team-leading rebounder with 197 ('86-'87), team leader in steals with 49 ('86-'87), Most Improved Award ('86), Most Valuable Player Award ('87), All-Conference Award ('87) and selection as a Licking County League All-Star.

On the field, GRAY was a two-time defensive player of the week ('86), was voted first ever state Most Outstanding Lineman ('86), received All-Conference recognition ('87), was selected as a Licking County League All-Star and was a member of the team that was a Licking County League conference winner.

Upon graduating, Gray decided to take a hiatus from athletics. After a year away from sports, high school basketball coach Rich Harrop convinced GRAY to enroll at Graceland.

During his illustrious Graceland career, GRAY won many awards that honored his outstanding collegiate career.

In basketball, he earned the Most Improved Award and received HAAC All-Conference Honorable Mention ('88-'89), received the Mr. Defense Award ('92-'93), and earned 3 varsity letters.

In football, GRAY was a starting defensive back as a freshman and was a starter each following year; he was considered one of the fiercest and most competitive defensive players on the field. He earned HAAC Third Team All-Conference and NAIA All-District honors in 1988-89.

After an extensive knee injury during his sophomore season, GRAY went on to earn HAAC First Team All-Conference honors twice ('90, '91), NAIA First Team All-District honors twice ('90, '91) and team Most Valuable Player honors twice ('90, '91).

On a national scale, GRAY secured NAIA All-American honors twice, including a Second Team selection in 1990 and a First Team selection in 1991. GRAY led his squad while being named captain for the 1990 and 1991 season and lettered three years, manning the outside linebacker/defensive end position.

In 1992, GRAY helped coach his alma mater's football team, mentoring the Graceland defensive line. GRAY also received the Outstanding Contribution Award that year.

GRAY currently resides in Grimes, Iowa with his wife Misty (Class of '93). The couple has three girls: Mychaell, Paetynn and Braelynn.

William "Billy" GRAY was inducted into Graceland University's Hall of Fame in 2011.

SOURCE: gujackets.com/f/Hall_of_Fame.php

Submission by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2013

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