Welcome to the Limestone County Fair Association

 Penny Gray, a true force to be reckoned with, comes from the medical field where she traveled all over the United States.  Throughout her career in nursing, she worked in a rural hospital, a large hospital labor & delivery, taught nursing in college, worked in home health, was in administrative offices of St. Joseph Hospital (750 beds) in downtown Houston, and she worked for several years as a Medicare surveyor. Mrs. Gray taught in an LVN program at Job Corps where she met Arnold Gray. She took students from San Marcos to a military hospital in San Antonio and Mr. Gray was on occasion, her bus driver. 

Arnold Gray served in the Army, during which time he was separated from Mrs. Gray for three years. Mr. Gray served one year in New York before going to Vietnam for one year, where Mrs. Gray would write to him faithfully. Upon completion of his tour in Vietnam, Mr. Gray was sent to Germany for a year before he was able to come home and marry Mrs. Gray. They have now been happily together for 59 years.

Mr. & Mrs. Gray came to Limestone County when Mrs. Gray accepted the position of Administrator/CEO of Limestone Medical Center. The Gray’s bought land in Limestone County in 1982 and quickly made friends within the community as weekenders and became permanent citizens of Limestone County in 1996 when she accepted the LMC position. 

The Gray’s started supporting the youth projects as buyers in the early 1980’s, buying from both the Young Farmer’s and the Limestone County Livestock Show annually. When the two shows combined to form what is known today as the Limestone County Fair Association, there were seven members from each group chosen and Mr. Gray was the “independent” fifteenth appointed board member. Everyone that knows the Gray’s are a package deal. While Mr. Gray was the official board member and superintendent of Ag Mechanics, Mrs. Gray did the books and was the brains behind the Treasurer’s position. The Gray’s served LCFA faithfully for 15 years on the board. In addition, the Gray’s are the founders of the fund to build the Limestone County Fairgrounds. They worked very closely with the Limestone County Commissioners to make sure the youth of Limestone County had an opportunity to show in a barn suitable for our fast-growing show. Mr. Gray has served his community well by sitting on several boards and attaining membership in several civic groups. Mr. Gray will receive a Congressional Veteran’s Commendation award, to be presented by Congressman Sessions on Veteran’s Day of 2023. Mr. Gray received this award in recognition of his military service and his community involvement. 

The Limestone County Fair Board is honored to dedicate the 2024 fair to Arnold & Penny Gray for their dedicated service to our community!