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GARLAND GRAY Controvers To Virgini By ALEX R. PRESTON Star Staff Correspondent WAVERLY, Va., Dec. 31.State Senator Garland Gray, 54, figured in public controversies long before the commission which he heads brought in Virginia's school segregation report. In 1952 he made a decision that vitally affected this community of about 1,500 inhabitants. He decided to close down the Gray Lumber Co., founded in 1884 by his grandfather and this area's chief industry. It employed between 200 and 300 men at various times. On November 13, 1952, workers votea, 99 to 8, for union representation. Six days later. Mr. Gray announced he was going out of business. Earl Davis, organizer for the International Woodworkers of America (CIO), was quoted at the time as saying word passed among the workers that Mr. Gray had said. "No damned union is going to run my pusiness." Other Reasons Talking with me in his office, Mr. Gray said personal business factors were the main reasons he decided to close down. The union filed unfair labor practices against the company. The National Labor Relations Board held several hearings on the complaints. Larry Gould of the Richmond News-Leader, came to Waverly to view the situation. "This Sussex County town." he wrote, "in the heart of the land of peanuts, pigs and pines, still was stunned today by the news that its main industry was being liquidated. "The man who made the decision, State Senator Garland Gray of Waverly, kept his silence on the move except to say: Due to current economic conditions, the returns of the Gray Lumber Co. have been so small for its principal stockholders you might say it has been operated only. for the benefit of the community and of its older employes." Ten days after the announcement, Waverly merchants and businessmen held a meeting. They went on record unanimously as having "utmost confidence" in Mr. Gray's decision. They said they were ready, to a man, to back him up. The complaint before the NLRB was never resolved. On May 6, 1953, Elmon T, Graythe Senator's son-announced he would reopen the plant under the name of Elmon Gray & Co. Senator Gray sold the operating business to his son and kept much of the timberland. Many of the former employes were rehired, Mr. Gray said. The townspeople backed Senator Gray's decision, perhaps with the Nation-wide bank holiday of 1933 in mind. The Bank of Waverly was one of those that could not reopen. "My uncle and I put up the money to reopen it," Mr. Gray said. "We did that with the