Longtime DePauw Professor Ralph Gray dies

Ralph Gray, professor emeritus of economics at DePauw University, passed away Sunday morning.

Gray joined the DePauw faculty in 1965 after teaching at Ohio University and the University of Arkansas. He received a doctorate from Syracuse University and an undergraduate degree from Ohio University. He retired from DePauw in 1997.

Gray co-authored an economics textbook for undergraduate courses in American economic history and articles for the National Tax Journal, Municipal Finance and other professional journals.

Named a DePauw “best teacher” in 1966-67 by students, Gray took a yearlong leave of absence in 1967, when he was appointed development economist for Arkansas' Economic Development Administration. He assisted in the coordination of state-initiated economic development programs while serving as an adviser to former Arkansas Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller.

Gray was married to Sally Hall Gray who died in 2012. She was an economics professor at DePauw from 1965 through 1979 and was a retired senior judge of the Putnam County Court.

Matthew Kincaid, DPU Class of 1992 and judge of Boone Superior Court 1, reflects on how Professor Gray impacted his life in the fall 2018 issue of the DePauw Magazine: “Professor Ralph Gray … instilled in me and others that being professional meant showing up and being prepared. … In Ralph’s world, you followed standards, met high expectations, but were a kind human being who enjoyed life. On days when I am able to both adhere to rules, standards and expectations of the law but also be warm and kind to the people before me, those successful days come in large part from DePauw and professor Gray.”

"Ralph Gray was a very strong teacher and dedicated member of our community,”, DePauw Vice President for Academic Affairs Dave Berque said. “I remember him calling me to see how we could work together to support a student we both knew and then remember that same student commenting on how much Professor Gray had meant to him. Professor Gray touched many lives and will be greatly missed."

Due to travel restrictions and limitations on safely holding gatherings there are no plans for a memorial service at this time.