Gray, Horace M. (Horace Montgomery) (1898-1986) | University of Illinois Archives

HORACE M. GRAY (1898-1986)

Horace M. Gray (1898-1986) was a professor of economics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1927 to 1966. He was a  researcher of economic policies focusing particularly on public utilities, monopolies, and government business regulations. He also testified in congressional committee hearings.

Detailed Biography:

Horace Montgomery Gray (1898-1986), was born in Lerna, Illinois, on June 29, 1898. After attending Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College (presently known as Eastern Illinois State University) and serving in the Navy (1918-1919), Gray received his Bachelor's degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in 1922. He then completed a Master's and Doctorate degree in Economics by 1926. Gray began as a full-time instructor and researcher in the Department of Economics at UIUC in 1927. By 1946, he had advanced to Full Professor and retired in June 1966.

In his classes and research he focused on topics such as transportation, public utilities, finance, taxation, monopolies, government regulation of business, antitrust policies, and natural resources. He also taught at the University of Colorado in the summer of 1936 and at Michigan State University in the summer of 1956. Gray published books, articles, and book reviews, including popular reviews in The Progressive and a co-authored book, Monopoly in America: The Government as Promoter (1955).

In addition to teaching and research, he served as the Assistant and Associate Dean of the Graduate College (1938-1948). Gray served on academic, professional, and government committees and organizations such as the American Association of University Professors, the American Economic Association, Midwest Economics Association (President, 1956), the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations (Director, 1947-1948) and the National War Labor Board. Most notable, Professor Gray testified in congressional committee hearings such as the House Select Committee on Small Business, House Public Works Committee, Senate Judiciary Committee: Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly, and Joint Economic Committee.

After his retirement in 1966, Gray moved to Texas where he worked as a Research Analyst for the Texas State Coordinating Board of Higher Education and a visiting instructor at Midwestern University, teaching business and government courses.

Horace Gray died on December 1, 1986.