William “Bill” Lewis Gray, 82, passed away from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on February 17, 2026, surrounded by family. He was born on May 9, 1943, in Helena, Arkansas, to the late Dick and Elsie Gray. His love for football and baseball and the Arkansas Razorbacks shaped his life and career.
Bill Gray graduated from Central High School in West Helena, Arkansas, in 1961. He received a scholarship to play baseball and football for the University of Arkansas. He lettered three years in baseball and football while being a captain of the 1964 National Championship football team. He played quarterback and defensive back for the Razorbacks. He threw a 68-yard completion to Jerry Lamb in the 1963 Sugar Bowl to set the school record for longest pass completion in a bowl game. He led the 1963 Razorbacks in scoring with 30 points on five touchdowns and led the 1964 team with three interceptions. Bill also led the 1965 Razorback baseball team with a .322 average.
After his college career, Bill was drafted by the Minnesota Twins and played professional baseball for a year. He then came back to Arkansas as a graduate assistant football coach under Frank Broyles before spending four seasons as a defensive backfield coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. He left coaching and was in the restaurant business for 12 years in Little Rock, including the Tracks Inn bar and several Steak and Ale restaurants. Afterwards, he served three years as business administrator for Baptist churches in Wichita, Kansas, and Shreveport, Louisiana.
Bill returned to Arkansas in 1984 as recruiting coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks under Head Coach Ken Hatfield. He served in that role for four years before becoming senior associate athletic director under Frank Broyles for the rest of his 29-year career with the Razorbacks. Bill served as the department’s point man for the renovation and expansion of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor and chairman of Arkansas’ football centennial celebration.
Bill met the love of his life, Peggy Gray, while she was a cocktail waitress at Tracks Inn in Little Rock. The two were married for 54 years. His greatest role of all was being dad to his children and papa to his grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Elsie Gray and his brother, Richard. He is survived by his wife, Peggy, his brother, Jim (Barbara) Gray, of Greenwood; cousin, Suzy Fehlig (Chuck) of Cave Springs; his daughters, Kristi Gray of Little Rock, and Carrie Burke, of Farmington, and his sons, Ken (Veronica) Gray of Inlet Beach, Florida, and Mike (Denise) Gray of Pea Ridge; his grandchildren, Kayla (Brendan) Vasquez of Fort Pierce, FL, Carley Gray of Charlotte, NC, Johnny (Stormi) Gray of Springdale, Jacob Gray of Princeton, TX, Isabella Burke, Kaya Burke, and Willa Burke of Farmington; and his great-granddaughter Bexley Bland of Fort Pierce, FL, plus several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on February 24, 2026, at Christian Life Cathedral, 1285 Millsap Road in Fayetteville, Arkansas, followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. at the same location.
Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook available at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com
5 Comments
My prayers are with my family, may God grant you comfort, peace & wonderful memories of life together. Thank you Uncle Bill for your love, You will always be remembered by me with love, admiration & as a role model that I respected greatly. Rest in Peace until we meet again.
Bill was a mentor to us younger athletes growing up in Helena, particularly in Little League baseball when Bill and Ken Hatfield trained us during the summer. May God’s love and blessings surround all of his family in this time of grief, and celebration of Bill entering God’s kingdom. R.I.P.
Back when my husband was a clueless country-boy college student, Bill Gray “adopted” and mentored him, helped him find work, and kept an eye on him. Years later, I met Bill when I started working at the UofA. When Bill heard that I was dating Louis, he called me into his office to tell me he would appreciate it “if you’d marry that boy.” Our 34th anniversary is next month. We love you, Bill.
Peggy and family, you and Bill were so encouraging to me and many singles at Calvary Baptist Church, with Phil Lineberger in the 70’s and 80’s. Your presence was so dynamic. That group grew and grew. Thanks to this group, many found their spouses and grew Christian families. What a legacy! May God give you peace and mercy as you grieve your loss.
I liked to call him Coach because Dad put so much faith in Bill, and I remember his efforts were huge and so important for our future those many years. Dad always said “we gotta get better” and “we do more with less” and Bill Gray was the best at it in so many ways. He will be missed but his example and work ethic will be remembered by so many he touched.
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