Dan W. Gray
Encyclopedia
Daniel Wyethe Gray was the Mayor of San Jose, California from 1926 to 1928. In 1925 he was president of the California Funeral Directors Association. http://www.cafda.org/pages/about_past_presidents.htm
.
He attended grammar school and high school in Des Moines, Iowa
. Upon graduation from high school, he was a farm worker for several years. When he was 21, he came to California
and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad
for 5 years. He went to work for the W. B. Ward Undertaking Co. in San Jose in 1911 and married Gertrude Ward, daughter of W. B. Ward soon afterwards. They had three children. He became manager of the firm in 1914 and was manager for 35 years. In July 1949 he was struck and killed by an automobile as he was crossing the street in front of the funeral home.
Gray had been active in San Jose civic affairs for most of his life. He was a member of the San Jose City Council in the 1920s and served as Mayor of San Jose, California from 1926 to 1928. Mr. Gray was an unsuccessful coroner's candidate in 1926. He was also a past exalted ruler of the San Jose Elks Lodge
, past president of the San Jose Rotary Club and was President of the California Funeral Directors Association in 1926.
He died on July 30, 1949.
Biography
He was born on May 26, 1883 in Iowa City, IowaIowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
.
He attended grammar school and high school in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
. Upon graduation from high school, he was a farm worker for several years. When he was 21, he came to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
for 5 years. He went to work for the W. B. Ward Undertaking Co. in San Jose in 1911 and married Gertrude Ward, daughter of W. B. Ward soon afterwards. They had three children. He became manager of the firm in 1914 and was manager for 35 years. In July 1949 he was struck and killed by an automobile as he was crossing the street in front of the funeral home.
Gray had been active in San Jose civic affairs for most of his life. He was a member of the San Jose City Council in the 1920s and served as Mayor of San Jose, California from 1926 to 1928. Mr. Gray was an unsuccessful coroner's candidate in 1926. He was also a past exalted ruler of the San Jose Elks Lodge
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, past president of the San Jose Rotary Club and was President of the California Funeral Directors Association in 1926.
He died on July 30, 1949.