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God Speed . . . Jim
Bob!
Donations in Dr. Gray’s memory can be sent to:
·The
Dr. James R. Gray - Stray Animal Fund at
the Winder Animal Hospital , 163 W. Athens
Street ,Winder , Georgia 30680.
·Whippet
Health Foundation - contact treasurer : Dr. Lisa Costello - 14855 Newark Rd, Newark, IL 60541
·Whippet Rescue and
Placement - contact treasurer: Jean
Schroeder - 17502 South 750 West, Wanatah, IN 46390
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January 25, 2006
Today marks the passing of a great man. Dr. James R. Gray of Elysian
Whippets passed away after a long battle with respiratory and cardiac
problems. Dr. Gray graduated from Texas University and Emory University Medical School in
Neonatology. He served as an instructor at Emory Medical School before retiring
from his career as a primary care physician.
For us, the whippet fancy, Dr. Gray will always be remembered as someone
who was influential in putting a ‘stamp’ on the breed. Elysian Whippets
was established in 1962. Dr. Gray was a breeder of Collies before
venturing into what became his passion, whippets. His foundation in
whippets began with Kirklea, Hound Hill and Pennyworth. Dr. Gray along
with Larry Shaw of Kirklea, Cora Miller of Hound Hill and Pierce & Frances Hembree of A-Few whippets bred along side one another for many years.
Over the past few decades he also bred dogs with Longlesson Kennels
with, Jan Margaret Swayze handling the Elysian dogs to perfection.
Dr. Gray bred and owned National and Regional Specialty winners, Best in
Field winners and a Futurity winner. He bred some of the most exquisite
black whippets, notably, Ch. Elysian Like an Angel and Ch. Cherche’
Wizard of the Wind. Angel was the dam of a very influential dog on the
Lure Coursing field, Elysian Like the Night, LCM 8, who broke many
records in the field during his days. Dr. Gray also owned National SBIS,
Multi-SBIS, Group Winning Ch. Elysian A-Few Perrier, LCM, CGC, ROMX and
his sister SBIS Ch. Elysian A-Few April Showers.
Dr. Gray
was one of my mentors in the breed and I learned so much from him.
He gave my mother and I our start in whippets. He gave us: Elysian
Like the Night, LCM 8, Ch. Elysian Oh Suzannah, ROM (our
foundation bitch) and I received Perry (Multiple SBIS & National SBIS Ch
Elysian A-Few Perrier, LCM, CGC, ROMX) as a pup for my 16th birthday.
I am eternally greatful for what he gave me and what I learned from him.
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