By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Dr. Gray

GREEN TWP. - Dr. James L. Gray delivered more than 10,000 babies in Greater Cincinnati during a career that spanned four decades.

"He was always busy," said his colleague Robert Burket of Greenhills, who worked out of the same office. "One year we did 800 - the two of us - and most of those were his."

Dr. Gray delivered more than 300 babies to wives of University of Cincinnati athletes at no charge, said his friend Joe Foley of Hyde Park.

Dr. Gray died Tuesday of pneumonia at his second home in Marco Island, Fla. The Green Township resident was 78.

Dr. Gray recruited for the UC tennis and football teams and served as president of the Ohio Valley Tennis and the Western Tennis associations.

He was a graduate of Western Hills High School and a Navy veteran of World War II. He served during the Korean War after graduating from UC's College of Medicine.

After the war, he started his practice and was on staff at Christ and the old St. Francis-St. George Hospital (now Mercy Franciscan) until he retired 10 years ago.

He was regional vice president of the U.S. Tennis Association and chairman of the USTA Junior Davis Cup.

He was a member of the Western Hills Country Club, the Cincinnati Tennis Club, Beta Theta Pi fraternity, the Island Country Club in Marco Island and St. John Westminster Union Church.

Survivors include Mary Lou McGinnis Gray, his wife of 54 years; a daughter, Suzanne G. Miller of Boston; two sons, James L. Gray III of Jacksonville, Fla., and Lee G. Gray of Dayton, Ohio; and four grandchildren.

The funeral is 10 a.m. today at Norman Chapel at Spring Grove Cemetery, 4521 Spring Grove Ave.

Memorials: University of Cincinnati Athletic Dept., P.O. Box 210021, Cincinnati 45221-0021; or the University of Miami Athletic Dept., 5821 San Amaro Dr., Coral Gables, Fla. 33124.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com