Charles Prescott Gray, ’66

Inspired by the care he received after contracting paralytic polio as a 4-year-old, Charles went on to a career in physical therapy education, building the curriculum for the newly-founded physical therapy school at Mobile’s University of South Alabama. His programs have trained generations of physical therapists throughout the United States. He served as the Professor of Gross Anatomy and Physical Therapy in the College of Allied Health Professions – School of Physical Therapy at the University of South Alabama from 1976-2008. He and his wife, Linda an Occupational Therapist, also inspired their children Jennifer and Jeremy to pursue careers in Health care as a Pediatrician and Physical Therapist/Health administrator respectively.

His childhood experiences with polio led his parents – farmer and county legislator Norman Gray, and OACS kindergarten teacher Marjorie Gray – to dredge “Gray’s Pond” on their property, and advocate for the building of the swimming pool in the under-construction high school, for water therapy. Both the pond and the pool have been mainstays in the childhoods of thousands in the Oakfield-Alabama community.

From helping his wife with her own polio disabilities, to helping patients with strokes or major injuries, teaching physical therapy to generations of students, or helping lead the community through his church where he is a deacon and ruling elder, Charles has always been a beacon of hope and light for those in need of one.