Clifford Gray

Clifford Gray was visiting his daughter in Switzerland in 1928 when he was selected for the USA bobsled team. Gray later went on to win a second gold medal in 1932, joining Billy Fiske as the only American sledders to win two golds. Clifford Gray also served as an alternate to the 1936 bobsled team, although he did not compete, and as a volunteer coach in 1948 at St. Moritz. After studying at Lake Forest Academy, Gray may have attended Cornell University, as did several other 1928 bobsledders.

The remainder of his life has been shrouded in mystery. An article in Yankee Magazine unearthed the fact that he was involved in the entertainment industry, as Clifford Grey, although the author of the article noted that his children did not even know he had competed in the Olympics.

Further research has indicated that Gray was not the same person as Clifford Grey, an English songwriter, which led to the confusion, although the Olympic bobsledder was also involved in the entertainment industry. This has led to various dates of birth and dates of death seen for him, and the varying name spellings. The English songwriter was born Percival Davis so that has been linked as an original name to the bobsledder as well, but that appears to be wrong.

He died near San Diego in November 1969, although some sources list April 1968. The only obituary was a 2-line notice in a local paper that gave no other information on his life.