Les, Janet Gray Are Grand Marshals
Of Springfield Fourth Of July Parade
SPRINGFIELD CENTER – Every year, Les and Janet Gray of Springfield Center can be found enjoying the Springfield Fourth of July Parade among a large crowd of family and friends on the lawn of St. Mary’s Church, but this year that’s not where they’ll be.
This year, the couple will be riding in the front of the parade as Co-Grand Marshals, in recognition of their many years of service and dedication to the Springfield community.
All five of their children and most of their 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren will come from around the country to see them in that honored role.
The gathering of family is not unusual, according to Les and Janet’s youngest daughter Laurie, “…attendance at the parade is always an expectation from mom and dad.”
91-year-old Les and 90-year-old Janet say they’ve never missed the Fourth of July Parade.
Even when living in Syracuse for 24 years, Springfield was always “home,” for the couple.
“We lived through the best part of this town’s history” says Janet, “We used to know everyone in town.”
The things Les and Janet say they love most about Springfield are the friendly, helpful people; the beauty of the area “…we still go for Sunday drives” Janet says; and the memories of good friends and lots of parties.
And their favorite day of the year is no surprise: July 4th.
Les Gray was born on his family’s Ayrshire dairy farm established in 1852 in East Springfield, and run until 1956 by Les.
Shortly after Les graduated from Springfield High School, the agriculture teacher there was killed in a logging accident and Les took over the classes in 1942 even though he was “…about the same age as the high school seniors.”
After finishing the year there, Les took classes at Cornell University while teaching agriculture at Madison High School. Madison offered to keep him on despite his lack of certification, but the farm called Les back to Springfield.
When Les and Janet were forty years old with four children and another on the way, they sold the farm and “started life anew” according to Janet.
Les found work with the State of New York Equalization Board, specializing in agricultural appraisals.
Due to his expertise in that field, Les was asked to join a small real estate appraisal group in Syracuse, and Pomeroy Appraisal Associates was founded.
This was the start of a 32-year career for Les, who became president of the company and oversaw its growth from four to thirty employees.
In addition to that, Les was the first Eagle Scout in Springfield Boy Scout Troop 47, and was Troop Leader from the late 40’s to 1956.
Les and Janet both were active members of the Grange; Les was a charter member of the Springfield Fire Department and was on the Committee when the new firehouse was built. Les was also a Springfield School Board member and served as president of the Board of Education for eight years.
As a child, Janet and her family moved all around the area, and they lived in Richfield Springs, Fly Creek, and Gloversville among other places, but Janet spent a great deal of time living with her grandparents on the Gros farm on the eastern edge of Springfield Center.
According to the couple’s daughter, Laurie, her mother “…speaks often of being up on the hillside among her grandparents’ trees looking at the beautiful view.”
“That spot can probably be seen in the view that she has from her back porch now, a view she never tires of looking at,” says Laurie.
Janet and Les first met as juniors in high school when the two schools in Springfield merged in 1939.
Janet has been a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Springfield Center all of her life, and since their marriage there 71 years ago, she and Les both have been actively involved in the church, which Janet says has the “warmest congregation.”
The theme for this year’s Fourth of July Parade is “American Pride”, and of the many things the Grays have to be proud of, Les says he’s most proud of his career.
Looking back, he is amazed at what he was able to accomplish, and feels fortunate to have happened into a career that he calls “a perfect fit.”
Janet, without hesitation, says she’s proudest of her kids; that pride goes both ways.
According to the Gray’s eldest son Bill, now 70, Les and Janet taught by example. “Whether it was how to treat others, the value of honest and dedicated work, the need to contribute to your community and society, or how to love unconditionally, the lessons were there to see as well as hear” says Bill.
This Fourth of July, the Town of Springfield and the community at large will celebrate American Pride with Les and Janet Gray serving as examples to all, a fitting tribute to a couple who has given so much to Springfield.
The 101st Annual Springfield Fourth of July Parade and Celebration will take place on Saturday July 4th, beginning at 11 a.m. in Springfield Center.