Received by Newsfinder from APDec 15, 2004 9:49 Eastern Time * Editors Note Note Virginia interest PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ The Rev. William H. Gray 3d, a former congressman and outgoing leader of the United Negro College Fund, is retiring from his church. Gray’s father and grandfather also were pastors at Bright Hope Baptist Church. Gray, 63, began preaching at the North Philadelphia church in 1972, after the death of his father, William H. Gray Jr. William Gray III served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years. In 1991, when he was the highest-ranking black member of Congress, Gray left to become president and chief executive officer of the United Negro College Fund. In Gray’s 13 years as president, the UNCF raised a record $1.5 billion. In 2003, he announced his plans to retire. Gray lives in northern Virginia, near Washington. For years, he has commuted several Sundays a month to preach at Bright Hope. Gray on Sunday announced his decision to leave the pulpit.
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