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

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.