William Gilmer Bray (June 17, 1903 – June 4, 1979) was an American lawyer and World War II veteran who served twelve terms as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Indiana from 1951 to 1975.
William G. Bray | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana | |
| In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | James E. Noland |
| Succeeded by | David W. Evans |
| Constituency | 7th district (1951–1967) 6th district (1967–1975) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 17, 1903 Mooresville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | June 4, 1979 (aged 75) Martinsville, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Indiana University Law School (Juris doctor, 1927) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Awards | Silver Star |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army Reserve |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
Early life and career
editBorn on a farm near Mooresville, Indiana, Bray attended the public schools of Mooresville, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University Law School at Bloomington in 1927 and was admitted to the bar the same year.
He served as prosecuting attorney of the fifteenth judicial district of Indiana, Martinsville, Indiana, from 1926 to 1930. He commenced the private practice of law in Martinsville, Indiana, in 1930.
World War II
editBray was called to active duty from the U.S. Army Reserve on June 21, 1941, with the rank of captain and served with a tank company throughout the Pacific campaign, receiving the Silver Star.
Post-war career
editAfter the war, he was transferred to Military Government and served nine months in Korea as deputy property custodian. Bray was released from active duty in November 1946 with the rank of colonel. He returned to private law practice in Martinsville, Indiana.
Congress
editBray was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-second and to the eleven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1975).
Bray voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957,[1] 1960,[2] 1964,[3] and 1968,[4] as well as the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.[5][6] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1974 to the Ninety-fourth Congress.
Later career and death
editHe resumed the practice of law following his defeat.
Named to be a commissioner to the American Battle Monuments Commission by President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1978.
Resided in Martinsville, Indiana, where he died June 4, 1979. He was interred in White Lick Cemetery, Mooresville, Indiana.
Honors
editBray was an Indiana Freemason, and in 1993, William G. Bray Commandery No. 65 of the Masonic-related Knights Templar of Indiana was chartered in Mooresville in his honor and memory.[7]
References
edit- United States Congress. "William G. Bray (id: B000778)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Specific
- ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
- ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 2516, A BILL TO ESTABLISH PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS. INTERFERENCE WITH A PERSON ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE 8 ACTIVITIES PROTECTED UNDER THIS BILL MUST BE RACIALLY MOTIVATED TO INCUR THE BILL'S PENALTIES".
- ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
- ^ "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
- ^ "Commanderies". www.indianaknightstemplar.com. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress