The signage and specialty graphics industries were recently saddened by the loss of Marcus Leon Gregory, founder of Gregory, Inc. Gregory passed away on Feb. 2, 2009 at Promise Regional Medical Center in Hutchinson, KS at the age of 79.

He was born on Feb. 9, 1929 in Barnsdale, OK to Clair Raymond and Mabel Ellen (Hill) Gregory, graduated from Barnsdale High School in 1947, and received a BA from Northeastern State College, Tahlequah, OK in 1951. On Nov. 22, 1950, he married Dorothy Ann Scott.

Gregory began his career as a teacher  at Cleveland Elementary School, Cleveland, OK and, in 1952, began teaching at Grandview Elementary School in Hutchinson. In 1954, he left his teaching career to enter the sign and graphic arts business. He and his wife founded Gregory Sign Advertising in Hutchinson in 1956. The business was renamed Gregory, Inc. in 1973 and relocated to Buhler, KS. He served as president of the company until his retirement in 1999.

A past member of the Kansas State Sign Association and Civitan Club, Gregory also served on the Buhler USD 313 Board of Education and the boards of Reno County Education Cooperative and Reno County Planning Commission. He was also active as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and group leader at Buhler Mennonite Brethern Church.

Gregory is survived by his wife Dorothy; sons Mark, Tim, Jonathon, and David; daughter Sarah Kuykendakll; brothers Clair and Ted; sister Lois Kuhn; eight granddaughters; four grandsons; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.