Who We Are

The sawmill was founded in 1936 by A.P. Gray who originally started hewing railroad cross ties by hand with a broad ax. A.P. eventually purchased a small sawmill, and started manufacturing railroad cross ties and switch ties, and rough lumber for barn and corral building.

One of A.P. Gray's sons, A.M. Gray, took over the sawmill in 1951. A.M. continued supplying the railroad with ties, and also found a good market for strong hardwoods in the oil field industry. Oil rigs needed strong oak and other hardwoods for decking and shoring both on and under the huge rigs. Oil companies also made many wooden roads to their rigs for supply trucks to travel on when the ground was too soft or muddy. A.M.'s reputation for accurate lumber soon spread, and the furniture industry was soon calling, wanting supplies of Red and White Oak, as well as other Southern hardwoods. A.M. Gray continued to produce hardwood lumber until 1981, when he passed the sawmill to his youngest son, Bryant E. Gray. Bryant capitalized on the furniture industry making it the primary product of the sawmill. Diversification proved to be beneficial when the oil industry fell in the early 80's. Bryant E. Gray found a good market for by-products of the furniture lumber. Lumber that would not make furniture grade could be sold to pallet companies for shipping uses.

The Next Generation

The Gray's have always prided themselves on the fact that they insist on actually operating the headsaw themselves, as well as swaging and sharpening their own saw. Tricks of the trade and knowledge gained from years of experience has been passed from generation to generation. A fifth generation is "in training" already, and hope to pass along all the experience and knowledge that the founding Gray's spent years perfecting.