Obama praises deceased ex-congressman Gray

David Jackson | USA TODAY

President Obama praised former U.S. representative William H. Gray III, a pioneering African-American congressman who passed away Monday.

"Bill's extraordinary leadership, on issues from housing to transportation to supporting efforts that ended apartheid in South Africa, made our communities, our country and our world a more just place," Obama said in a statement.

Gray, who rose to the position of House majority whip, died Monday while attending the Wimbledon tennis tournaments in London.

The pastor of a Baptist church in Philadelphia first won election to Congress in 1978. He resigned in 1991 to become head of the United Negro College Fund.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:

"Rev. Gray represented the Second Congressional District of Pennsylvania and rose to become Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, the first African American in the 20th century to assume that post. He also served as chairman of the Budget Committee, and as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Foreign Operations.

"'He was a trailblazer. He was a pioneer,' said state Rep. Dwight Evans, who considered Rev. Gray a mentor. 'I learned a lot from him about building relationships with rural legislators.'"

"In Congress, Rev. Gray helped shape the direction of U.S. foreign policy and pushed government resources towards international aid and development."

Obama's full statement:

"Bill Gray was a trailblazer, proudly representing his beloved Philadelphia in Congress for over a decade as the first African-American to chair the Budget Committee and to serve as the Majority Whip.

"Bill's extraordinary leadership, on issues from housing to transportation to supporting efforts that ended apartheid in South Africa, made our communities, our country and our world a more just place.

"Michelle and I extend our deepest sympathies to Bill's family, especially to his wife Andrea and their three sons."