Norris C. Gray - Melbourne

Norris C. Gray, passed away Thursday July 30th, 2009. Norris (a.k.a.Chief) was born in Wichita Falls., Texas on March 6, 1920.

He moved to Tampa, FL at an early age and attended public schools and Brewster College there. He joined the National Guard but was mobilized into the regular Army in 1940-into the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Bragg, NC. Chief Gray was involved in campaigns in Africa, Sicily, England, Normandy, Belgium, and Germany. His involvement with these campaigns earned him the Presidential Citation and eight Battle Stars for service to his country. The Hertz Mountains in Germany are where the 9th Infantry Division was instrumental in the capture of the V2 missiles, which were subsequently sent back to the United States for testing. These missiles were the embryo of our space program.

Chief Gray returned from military service in 1945 and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Marie Fuller. They have two children: son, Darryl Noel and daughter Dorothy Diane Marty. They have three wonderful grandsons: Scott Gray, Douglas, Jr., and Daniel Marty; sister Lucille Eastburn.

Chief Gray went to work for the Federal Government at MacDill Air Force Base, FL in 1945. He was transferred to Anniston Ordnance Depot in Alabama in 1946. In 1949 he was transferred to the Joint Long Range Proving Ground (now Patrick Air Force Base) and then moved to the Cape Canaveral Missile Annex as Fire Chief and Emergency Preparedness Officer. He continued his education receiving a Professional Engineering degree.

In 1963 Chief Gray joined NASA as the Fire Protection/Safety and Rescue Officer and became involved in early missile development during the Orbiter design reviews. He later became Sub-system Manager for the Space Shuttle Program Chief Gray retired in 1984 after 35 years of government service. He has remained a NASA Public Affairs Volunteer every since. He has also served as President of the NASA Alumni League and served on the Board of Directors. In 2007, Chief Gray was honored with the National Space Club Florida Committee Lifetime Achievement Award. Chief Gray reports that he is honored to be part of the team that put men on the Moon and safely returned them back to Earth.

Calling hours are Saturday, August 8, 2009 from 1-2 p.m. followed by a 2p.m. Memorial Service at Davis Seawinds Funeral Home, 560 Montreal Ave., Melbourne, FL 32935 Davis Seawinds Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.