Gray Will Leave House Aug. 5 to Head Negro College Fund

NEW YORK —  Rep. William H. Gray III (D-Pa.), the highest ranking black member of Congress, announced Thursday that he will resign to head the United Negro College Fund.

Gray, who is House majority whip, joined college fund officials at a news conference to confirm rumors that had been circulating in Washington. The congressman said he will complete the current House session, set to end Aug. 5, and begin his new job Sept. 3.

Among senior Democrats already campaigning for Gray’s leadership post are David E. Bonior (D-Mich.), the chief deputy whip, and Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Sacramento), the deputy caucus chairman and chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee, also is considering running for the post.

As the No. 3 man in the House leadership, Gray had a good chance of becoming the first black House Speaker. And some of his black colleagues expressed concern about the loss of such a powerful and highly visible position. But Gray, while conceding that his new job will have “maybe not as much visibility,” said that working with the college fund was “the most important thing that I can do . . . . “

The college fund, the largest black fund-raising organization in the United States, helps support 41 private, historically black colleges and universities.

Gray, 49, was first elected to the House in 1978. He became chairman of the House Budget Committee in 1985, chairman of the Democratic Caucus in 1988 and whip in 1989.