Industrial Authority Presents Doc and Sarah Gray "Lifetime Achievement Award" At Annual Dinner

Edmonson Co. Industrial Authority Board Chairman Jim Childress presents Doc Gray with the Lifetime Achievement Award on December 6, 2016.

Darren Doyle, story and photo
Dale "Doc" and Sarah Gray were presented the Edmonson County Industrial Authority's Lifetime Achievement Award" last night during the organization's annual dinner held at Mammoth Cave Hotel.

Doc Gray was also the keynote speaker who discussed his love for God, his wife Sarah, and the people of Edmonson County.

Dr. Gray accepted the award on behalf of Mrs. Gray who was unable to attend due to illness.

The award was presented as a 'thank you' for the Gray's lifetime of leadership and commitment to Edmonson County. The Grays moved into the Hill home at the site of Chalybeate Springs in 1958. Dr. Gray practiced chiropractics there until going back to school to become a teacher, where he was hired at ECHS in 1969 as an art instructor.

He then served many years as the school's guidance counselor, years that he said "were the best years of my life." He gave several examples of helping young people through their problems, whether they were fights at school or using his own car to transport students to visit colleges or tech schools. 

Mrs. Sarah Gray, a community staple with the Bank of Edmonson County, worked for 50 years helping people with loans to purchase their first homes, cars, businesses, and farms. 

N.E. Reed, Industrial Authority member who introduced the award said, "There's probably not anyone here that either you, your parents, or grandparents haven't been affected in a positive way by Doc and Sarah."

Dr. Gray, who helped start both the football and golf program at ECHS in 1970 said he was also thankful for all the small country churches that covered Edmonson County.

"I go up and down the road and see them," he said. "I think to myself, hey, there's good people in there, and that's what makes Edmonson County great, it's the people."

As Doc concluded his remarks, he was grateful for the award, but took no credit for himself.

"I thank the Industrial Authority for this, but it's not people like me that make Edmonson County what it is today, it's people like you," he said as he pointed to the crowd.

"You and your families have meant so much to me over the years," he said holding back tears. "It's not what I've done for you, you all don't realize what you've done for me. God Bless all of you."