State House unanimously passes Youngblood resolution honoring William H. Gray III

On Thursday, the state House of Representatives unanimously voted to adopt Rep. Rosita Youngblood’s resolution honoring former U.S. Congressman William H. Gray III.

Gray, a third-generation pastor who has presided over Bright Hope Church for 35 years who remains an esteemed businessman, was also a groundbreaking visionary excelling as president and CEO of United Negro Fund leader for 12 years, Youngblood said. 

His efforts increased fundraising initiatives to record numbers from 1991 to 2004. He was also the first African-American to chair the Budget Committee and become majority whip.

“Under his leadership, the UNCF greatly enhanced its ability to financially assist minority students and to support historically black colleges and universities,” said Youngblood. “Through a career dedicated to public service, Bill Gray impacted in a positive way the lives of countless people in Pennsylvania, the nation and around the world.”

Gray is a Simon Gratz High School and Franklin and Marshall College alumnus who, Youngblood said, remains a role model to this day.

“Any one of these accomplishments provides an exclamation point on a life well lived in the interest of helping others,” said Youngblood of the impetus behind House Bill 730. “For one man to amass them all is a testament to a titanic contribution to humanity.”