Josephine "Doby" Gray
A Life Devoted to Beagling
Josephine Gray, affectionately known as Doby, was born in 1942 in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. A proud graduate of Jeannette High School, she completed her studies in 1960 and went on to earn her license in Beauty School. It was during high school that Doby met the love of her life, Ron Gray. They married in 1961 and went on to build a beautiful family, raising three children: Danette, Ronnie Jr., and Christina.
In 1969, Doby joined Ron in what would become a lifelong passion—Beagling. Their very first field trial took place at Beaver Valley Beagle Club, where they won, sealing their fate as lifelong beaglers. From that moment on, Doby was all in. She not only attended countless trials but became deeply involved in every aspect of the sport.
Over the years, Doby made a remarkable impact in the Beagling community:
· Judged 33 Licensed Brace Trials, including Champion, Derby, Sanction, and Club Trials
· Held numerous leadership roles in various beagling organizations
· Field Trial Chairman – Coraopolis Beagle Club
· Field Trial Secretary/Treasurer – Tri-State Association
· Pennsylvania Beagling Officer for four years
· Master of Ceremony for the International Beagle Federation (IBF) for two years
· Inducted into the Breeders Hall of Fame in 2007
· Inducted into the Tri-State Hall of Fame in 2010
Her competitive achievements are just as impressive:
· 9-time winner of the Pennsylvania State Championship
· 2-time winner of the National Championship
· Won the 13” Futurity Female Class at Federal events with Gray’s Dove and Gray’s Dot
· Finished 39 AKC Champions
· Sold 10 puppies that went on to become champions
· Placed 2,068 times in various field trials
· Started many puppies for friends and fellow beaglers
In addition to her trial and breeding success, Doby was the heart of the kitchen at the Coraopolis Beagle Club, where she began working in 1969. For 56 years, she made sure no one ever went hungry at a club trial, never missing an event to provide breakfast and lunch to the participants.
After retiring from her job at the airport in 2014, Doby turned her focus to whelping puppies—a role she had quietly mastered since 1970 with her own litters. It became a true passion and a treasured hobby. As word spread of her skill and care, beaglers from 15 different states brought their bitches to Doby, trusting her implicitly. Between her own dogs and those she helped for others, she whelped an extraordinary 152 litters and delivered 754 puppies.
In 2024, due to changing state regulations, Doby retired from her beloved whelping work. Her legacy, however, continues to live on through the many champions she helped raise, the people she supported, and the community she helped build.
Doby Gray’s life is a testament to dedication, heart, and unwavering commitment to the world of Beagling—a true icon in the field and a beloved figure to all who know her.
As you can see, Doby constantly displays her integrity, dedication and deep respect for the sport of Beagling. Her lifelong commitment and countless contributions have shaped the community in meaningful ways. We thank the Hall of Fame members for their support and recognition of what a worthy candidate and honor Doby is as a Nominee; and appreciate the beagling community for their support in honoring her legacy.