Rondy Thurber Gray

Rondy Thurber Gray, BBA ’59, of Waco, passed April 3 at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center in Waco. Gray was born July 6, 1933, in Godley, Texas, and moved to Waco in 1945. He attended North Junior High and graduated from Waco High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army and went on to graduate from Baylor in 1959. Gray married Gloria Stogdill in 1954. They were together until her passing in 2006. He then married Jackie Woolridge in 2007, who was by his side until his death.

Gray was a well-respected businessman and community leader. He took over Waco Welders Supply after his father’s death in 1968 and continued as its president and owner until he sold the company in 1997. By that time, he had grown the business to include 23 welding supply stores throughout Texas. He served on the board of Texas National Bank and was a founding board member of Texas First State Bank until 2020. He was also a founding partner of the original Brazos Queen and Brazos Landing restaurant in the late 1970s.

Gray was an active member of his community, serving as a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce from 1957 to 1974, and as its president in 1966. He was passionate about supporting his alma mater, Baylor University. He and his wife, Gloria, donated the Gray’s Gym & Strength Center at the Ferrell Center in 2005 as a memorial to their son, Rondy B. Gray. Gray continued serving his community with wife, Jackie. They were supporters of the Waco Zoo, YMCA and Fuzzy Friends.

Gray will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all those who knew him.