Grattan Gray
Inducted 1999
chairman of the board, The Monroe Evening News
In 1993, Grattan Gray already had devoted more than 50 years of his life to building and maintaining a strong, innovative and independent editorial voice at The Monroe Evening News – a newspaper that reflected the Gray’s family commitment to public trust. Born in 1925, Gray began his close association with his family’s newspaper, The Monroe Evening News, at the age of 12, working as a carrier, mailroom worker and in the press room. After graduating from Culver High School in 1942, he attended Culver Junior College before graduating from Northwestern University in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Gray also served in the United State Navy. From the early 1950s to the present, rising through positions as circulation manager, editorial writer, editor and general manager, he has devoted himself to building and leading a community newspaper recognized around the state and the Midwest for journalistic excellence, technological innovation and family stewardship. Under Gray’s leadership, The Monroe Evening News has been on the leading edge of technology, including conversion to electronic copy production, completion of a subscriber/non-subscriber database and a switch to full pagination. Also, he and son Stephen successfully achieved an employee ownership program, enhancing company communications and employee involvement. For these efforts, in 1996 The Monroe Evening News received the prestigious Annual Award for Communications Excellence. Beginning in the 1970’s, Gray has served as a director (and president) of the Michigan Press Association; director of the Inland Press Daily Association and board member and president of the Michigan League of Home Dailies. He also has served as a professional representative on the University of Michigan Board for Student Publications and on the board of The State News at Michigan State University.