Calvin G. Grayson

Calvin G. Grayson has a distinguished list of accomplishments during his 50-year career working to improve the transportation system, quality of life, and economic vitality of many regions and communities in Kentucky. His visionary leadership, expertise, and advice have been sought repeatedly by his professional colleagues and political leaders throughout the nation.

Mr. Grayson recently retired as Director of the University of KTC Test Site, a position he held for fourteen years. While Director, he was instrumental in increasing the Center’s annual budget for research and technology exchange to greater than six million dollars. During this time, he also served as Associate Professor in the College of Engineering.

He was the first career employee at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to be appointed Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth. He was appointed Secretary in 1977 after a 29-year career with the Cabinet. As Secretary, he managed 6,000 employees and an annual budget of over $800 million. Prior to being appointed Secretary, Mr. Grayson held positions of State Transportation Planning Engineer, Assistant State Highway Engineer, Assistant Director of Planning, Design Engineer, and Bridge Design Engineer. His major areas of expertise include management, planning, and design.

When he retired from the state, he became vice-president of Wilbur Smith & Associates, a transportation consulting firm, in charge of their Lexington office from March 1980 until March 1983.

A native Kentuckian, Mr. Grayson has received many local and national awards for his management, leadership, and professionalism. Those awards include induction into the University of Kentucky’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni and into the Lafayette Senior High School’s Hall of Fame. He also was named one of the national “Top Ten Public Works Leaders” by the American Public Works Association, received the S. S. Steinberg Award from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, the Donald C. Stone Award from the American Public Works Association, and the Outstanding Engineer in Government Award from the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers.

Mr. Grayson is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Kentucky and West Virginia. He and his wife, Ginny, live in Lexington, have two daughters and two grandchildren. Their grandson, Trevor White, shared his grandfather’s philosophy for success at Mr. Grayson’s retirement party in February, “Believe in God, believe in yourself, and live by the Golden Rule.”