Major General James G. Blunt

For other people named William Bray or Bill Bray, see William Bray (disambiguation).


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.

Early life and career

Born 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

Called to active duty from the US Army Reserve 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

After 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

Bray 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

He 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.

Representative Bray and other members of the House Committee on Science and Astronautics visit the Marshall Space Flight Center on March 9, 1962, to gather first-hand information of the nation's space exploration program.

Resided in Martinsville, Indiana, where he died June 4, 1979. He was interred in White Lick Cemetery, Mooresville, Indiana.

Honors

Bray 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

Specific
  1. ^ "HR 6127. CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1957". GovTrack.us.
  2. ^ "HR 8601. PASSAGE".
  3. ^ "H.R. 7152. PASSAGE".
  4. ^ "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".
  5. ^ "S.J. RES. 29. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BAN THE USE OF POLL TAX AS A REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS". GovTrack.us.
  6. ^ "TO PASS H.R. 6400, THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT".
  7. ^ "Commanderies". www.indianaknightstemplar.com. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 7th congressional district
1951–1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 6th congressional district
1967–1975 		Succeeded by

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Bray