Sad Sam Gray of Van Alstyne Cemetery : Baseball Legend

I’m not much of a sports aficionado honestly. I was anxious to find the Grave of Mr. Samuel Gray purely from a genealogical standpoint. I am related to a few a few grays in Van Alstyne Cemetery. If I am related to Sam Gray I don’t know at this time. I,m still looking honestly.

Samuel David " Sad Sam" Gray was a Native of Van Alstyne Texas the son of James Alonzo and Eugenia Gray . He was a World War I veteran (TEXAS PVT 3 BN FRENCH ARTY. CAC WWI)   Sam was a pitcher in Major League Baseball playing for the Philadelphia Athletics (1924-1927) then for St. Louise Browns ( 1928-1934)  being a right handed fastballer. ( per his obit on find a grave )  His 1928 season was best year, as he pitched 21 complete games with a win loss of 20-12. ( Wikipedia)  He passed away in McKinney Texas in the Veterans Hospital of Carcinoma of the brain ( death certificate) I’ve been looking for the Grave of Sam Gray a while and a Friend pointed the way while at Van Alstyne Cemetery today. Sam's grave Is very nondescript for a person of his caliber of fame. He is buried towards to back Of the Moore Section by a few family members. The nearest stone near him is a Giant one that says Carter and Taylor.  I might also like to note there is a photograph or two of Sam Gray at the Van Alstyne museum, unfortunately I wasn't allowed to take pictures!!!

  Information from Wikipedia and picture Sam from google images.sources and more information are listed below. _______________________________________________________

 Sources and other information on Sam. 

Sams Find a Grave ( Click Here)

For the Baseball Reference ( More information, outside Link ) Click Here

For Sam Grays wikipedia article Click here

Fore Baseball almanac Click here 

Grayson County Genweb for Sam Gray ( Click Here)  

Texas Gravestone Project listing for Sam Gray ( Click Here )  

 Source of sams Picture in article above ( Click here)

The Murder of Frank Miller: A Friend until Frank's Untimely End (No. 3)

This is the third installment on Otto Franklin Miller.  Albeit rather short but with a message. As a recap Frank Miller was The first born in  May of 1905 to James and Cordelia Miller, in April of 1926 in Woodville Oklahoma ( Old Woodville) . He was murdered  at his Filling station Job by an  irate police officer named Albert lary whom later served time in an Oklahoma Prison.
    Something came to my attention about Mr. Frank .He was very fortunate throughout his short life to have a life long buddy. This young man whom we shall call mr. C was born roughly around same time as Frank was. Mr. C was of a prominent Grayson family. Mr. C and Frank attended the same school  at Kentuckytown Texas.  a now obsolete community with only a cemetery remaining.
  Mr. C and frank were very close buddies, later enlisting in an Oklahoma  C.M.T C  camp  at Fort Sill in 1920s. Mr. C was also involved in helping run the filling station of which Frank was employed upon his demise in 1926.  Mr. C was also at trial for Frank's murder with Frank's family.
Mr. C would go on to marry shortly after Frank's death, he died in 1970s and was buried in a Fannin Co cemetery.
  My message on this is frank was gifted with a friendship of a very rare nature, one that endured until his death. Friends like this don't come along very often. As Proverbs 18: 24 states "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" 
I believe  Mr. C was this kind of friend. Though Frank had a short life , there was one thing that could not be stolen and that was the gift of a lifetime friend whom remembered Frank until his end in 1970s.  In its own way a small defiance against the man whom cut Frank's   life short.
  Below are two pictures, first is frank and friends at a carnival in Oklahoma, Mr. C is one of the young men closer to Frank ,whom is tallest in middle with undercut hairstyle. Other picture is a school photo,  Frank is back row , far left on outside in dark jacket. Mr. C is sitting in second row.