GRAY, Jimmy Frank, age 86 of Belvidere, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2009 at Erlanger Hospital. He was born and raised in Gray's Hollow. His mother, Velma, was a schoolteacher and his father, Auburn, was a farmer, horse breeder and trainer. In 1943, Jimmy married the love of his life, Emma Bell Baker. They enjoyed 57 years together. Emma passed away in 2000 after a long illness. To many, Jimmy Gray could very well be called the Babe Ruth of the Walking Horse industry. He bred, trained and rode walking horses for over six decades. In 1939, Jimmy showed Captain Kidd at the very first Celebration. After that, he had an incredible string of successful mares that kept him in the ribbons for nearly two decades. Maid of Cotton was perhaps Jimmy's greatest show horse. In 1945, with Jimmy in the irons, she walked away with both the Three-Year-Old Mare World Championship and the Junior World Grand Championship. During the 1960's and 1970's Jimmy had the opportunity to judge horse shows. In 1970, he judged the breeder's division at the Celebration and in 1971, he judged the first Spring fun show. Jimmy will remain a legend and part of a unique generation of men and women who witnessed and participated in the origin of the breed known as the Tennessee Walking Horse. In addition to being a member of the TWBEA, he was a member of the Marble Plains Masonic Lodge, Church of Christ and was a Tennessee Squire. He is survived by a sister, Marianne (J.T.) Leech, nephew, Rodney Leech and special friends, Sherry and Ronnie Dotson. Funeral services were conducted Monday, May 25, 2009 at 1 p.m. at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home Chapel in Winchester with Rev. O.L. Hart officiating. Interment was in the Gray Farm Cemetery next to his beloved Emma. Heroes get remembered, but legends live forever.