JASPER, Texas — The Friends of the Jasper County Historical Commission announced the winners of the 2026 Side of Beef Raffle, naming Lynette Mote of Santa Fe, Texas, and Marsha Nabors of Jasper, Texas, as the lucky recipients. Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard and Jasper Public Library Director Lindsey Cox assisted with drawing the winning tickets at the historical commission office. Ticket sales from the event directly support ongoing efforts to digitize the commission’s extensive historical documents and archival collections, preserving local history for future generations. Organizers expressed gratitude to Charles and Sheri O’Neal, owners of C&S Cattle LLC and CEO Beef LLC, for donating the processed and wrapped beef. Their contribution aids in the preservation of Texas history and supports agricultural initiatives. Officials thanked all participants for contributing to the successful historical preservation fundraiser. JASPER — Guy James Gray Jr., the longtime Jasper County district attorney who gained national recognition for prosecuting three men responsible for the racially motivated murder of James Byrd Jr., died Tuesday, Oct. 20, following a battle with cancer. He was 77. Gray served as district attorney for 26 years, building a distinguished legal career that brought national attention to Jasper County during one of the most significant criminal cases in East Texas history. He is best remembered for prosecuting John William King, Lawrence Russell Brewer and Shawn Allen Berry in connection with Byrd’s June 1998 murder. Byrd, a 49-year-old Black man, was beaten, chained to a pickup truck and dragged to his death along a rural Jasper County road. The killing shocked the nation and brought intense scrutiny to the small East Texas community. Gray led the prosecutions that resulted in convictions for all three defendants. King and Brewer received death sentences, while Berry was sentenced to life in prison. His work on the case earned recognition from the U.S. Department of Justice. In July 2000, Attorney General Janet Reno presented Gray and other members of the investigation and prosecution team with the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the department’s highest honor. The award recognized the coordinated efforts of local, state and federal authorities in bringing Byrd’s killers to justice. Gray’s distinguished service also received recognition on the floor of the U.S. Senate from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Born July 5, 1949, in Orange, Gray grew up on his family’s ranch in the Harrisburg community east of Jasper. He graduated from Jasper High School before earning degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and its law school. Following law school in 1973, Gray returned to Jasper to begin his legal career. Inspired by his grandfather, Judge William E. Gray, he built a career in public service before eventually relocating to Kerrville, where he maintained a private law practice. Beyond the courtroom, Gray enjoyed ranching, horseback riding, golf and aviation. He is survived by his wife, Mary Botts Gray, and several children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass was scheduled for Monday, Oct. 26, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Kerrville, with burial at Glen Rest Cemetery. Gray leaves behind a lasting legacy in Jasper County, particularly for his leadership in securing justice in a case that forever changed the community.