On Monday, December 14th, Arthur Gray passed away. Arthur was a member of the board of directors of Seventh Generation since 1991.
Arthur was a humble man, never one to boast or focus on his own accomplishments.
Arthur was a man of principle, a man of conviction, compassion, and courage.
Arthur was a man of great faith and fortitude.
Arthur was one of the few people who knew me before I knew him. He was there the day I was born, and remained a close friend of our family for my entire life. Arthur met my father at the Republican convention in Chicago in 1952. They worked together on Eisenhower’s campaign and forged a bond that lasted decades. The two men could not have been more different. Arthur was a man with a gentle and soft touch; my father was a small man with a loud voice.
On June 1st, 1979, Arthur helped form my second business. I was 24 years old and Arthur served as the Chairman of the Board, chief cheerleader and fundraiser for the Network for Learning. My father later joined him on the board. There would have been no Network for Learning without Arthur Gray.
Network for Learning had no shortage of successes and near death experiences. In 1984 after years of growth, the company was virtually out of business and we were forced to let go all 120 employees. Arthur, as ever, stood by my side. Just over a year later, quite amazingly, we sold the company to Warner Communications. Arthur, still the Chairman, presided over the ceremony as his faith was once again confirmed. For someone not yet 30, Arthur’s support led me to the first significant financial success in my life. Everyone who had initially invested in the company back in 1979 made a 10 to 1 return on their investment.
Arthur joined the Seventh Generation board in 1991, and other than me, was its longest serving member.
Arthur never gave up on anything he was committed to. Guided by deep belief, he lived in a world that was not ruled by the obstacles that deterred others. His faith enabled him to believe in possibilities others could not see. His commitment was unwavering. At the darkest hour, he was as confident as he was at the height of success.
There is something we can all learn from this exceptional man. In a world filled with cynicism and disbelief, in mistrust and faithlessness, Arthur showed us another possibility. The possibility we need to confront the huge challenges we face in the world today, challenges that can’t be conquered by facts, technology, power and brute force.
The faith and belief that Arthur best represented is often the only solution to enable possibilities that simply transcend logic and analysis.
When I stood alone, facing more than once, the all but certain failure of Seventh Generation, Arthur’s faith never wavered. He remained my most vocal cheerleader when others were convinced the end was just around the corner.
Arthur’s faith was not merely the stuff of kind words and encouragement, though that was always comforting, Arthur brought to bear his relationships and financial resources that kept the company alive when all else had failed.
There would be no Seventh Generation today without Arthur Gray.
We would have not survived the numerous crises that were the hallmark of our first 10 years in business without him.
Arthur’s legacy is everything that is good about this company. The jobs created, the hugely positive impact on the environment, the millions that have been educated and the leadership in corporate responsibility we have shown other businesses are in many ways possible because of his support.
I don’t think Arthur ever missed a single board meeting in 20 years Whether he was in New Hampshire, St. Croix or Spain, he would ensure that he was available to lend us his valuable council. He was also endlessly available to take my call, read my letter or respond to my email.
And while that is more than enough, what I will miss most is the man who was my second father. The one with the soft, comforting touch my father never had, the way he always found an opportunity to provide support rather than criticism and reveled in my successes rather than focus on my failings.
I have been very lucky to have a man like Arthur in my life. The world would be a much better place if only it was filled with more men with his faith and compassion, men who are concerned with others before themselves.
Arthur was a humble man, never one to boast or focus on his own accomplishments.
Arthur was a man of principle, a man of conviction, compassion, and courage.
Arthur was a man of faith and fortitude.
We will all miss him deeply, but were blessed to have had him in our lives.