Col. Roy C. Gray, Jr. grew up as an aviation enthusiast, building model airplanes throughout his childhood and winning a statewide competition in his teenage years. Col Gray graduated from Frankfort High School in 1941 and enrolled in the University of Kentucky School of Engineering, where he earned a varsity letter on the UK rifle team. He entered the Naval Aviation Training Program in the early 1940s and upon graduation and commissioning, became a Marine Aviator, and went on to serve in WWII, the Korean War, and Viet Nam. Over the course of 30+ years, he distinguished himself as a pilot and a leader and was awarded numerous medals and citations, including a Purple Heart. In WWII, Col. Gray served in the Pacific theater in both the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. During the Korean conflict, after some 90 missions, his plane was shot down over North Korea and was imprisoned for 18 months before being repatriated at the cessation of hostilities. Col. Gray went on to serve as a member of the military advisory committee and Wings Operations Officer in two tours of Viet Nam. In postwar service, Gray became a Test-pilot at Patuxent River (MD) Naval Air Station where he served as Commanding Officer of the Marine Aviation Detachment, and also Liaison to the Commander, Naval Air Test Center. After retirement from service, he served as a civilian engineering contractor at the Naval Air Test Station at Pax River for almost 20 years. He was involved in the development of the F/14 and F/A 18 Naval aircraft.