Bernard Elbert Gray Papers

Bernard Elbert Gray was born in Andover, Massachusetts in 1888. He graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1911. During his summer vacations he worked for the Massachusetts Highway Commission. After graduation, he joined the Commission full time as an Assistant Division Engineer engaged in building roads and bridges. From 1916-1918 he worked for the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads which he rejoined (after a year in the military during World War I) as Senior Highway Engineer supervising Federal Aid projects. Starting in 1921 he worked for the West Virginia State Roads Commission in various positions and advanced asphalt technology.

Gray went on to become one of the world's leading experts on highway engineering. He was very active in the Asphalt Institute, an international trade association of petroleum asphalt producers, manufacturers and affiliated businesses. He wrote many technical papers in the highway engineering trade press, addressed those in the highway engineering field at industry conventions, and among other posts served as President of the Asphalt Institute from 1947-54 which he had joined in 1930 as Highway Engineer. Gray was a former director of the American Road Builder's Association, a trustee of the Automotive Safety Foundation, a member of the Highway Research Board, the American Society of Engineers, and the Vermont Engineering Society. Gray received an honorary degree from Tufts University in 1935. Bernard Gray died on July 24, 1982.