Cliff Gray

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameClifford Barton "Cliff"•Gray
Used nameCliff•Gray
Nick/petnamesTippy
Born29 January 1892 in Chicago, Illinois (USA)
Died9 November 1969 in Spring Valley, San Diego County, California (USA)
Measurements173 cm
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 2
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Cliff Gray was vacationing in St. Moritz in 1928 when he was selected for the bobsled team. But 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. After studying at Lake Forest Academy, Gray attended Cornell University, as did several other 1928 bobsledders.

The remainder of his life is shrouded in mystery. There was some evidence that he was a professional songwriter and playwright of British origin, as noted originally in an article in Yankee Magazine, and later in David Wallechinsky’s Olympic books, but this is now considered incorrect. It appears he was born in Chicago, to English parents, of some wealth. He lived for a time at the Friar’s Club in New York, the Savoy Plaza Hotel in New York, and later in Hollywood, indicating he had some connection to the entertainment industry. In fact, he worked in musical comedy and summer stock in Chicago, and he did some vaudeville. His World War I draft registration card located him in Columbus, Ohio, and listed his occupation as an actor, or possibly an author. He died in a small town in San Diego county in California.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) USA Cliff Gray
Four/Five, Men (Olympic) United States 2 1 Gold
1932 Winter Olympics Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) USA Cliff Gray
Four, Men (Olympic) United States 1 1 Gold

Special Notes

Errata

It has been suggested that this is the same person as English songwriter Clifford Grey, but we are now quite certain this is incorrect. That person was born on 5 January 1887 in Birmingham, Warwickshire and died on 26 September 1941 in an air raid on Ipswich, Suffolk.