“Logging seems to be something you are born into. You never hear about someone quitting a stockholder gig to ‘live the life of a logger.'" That’s a quote from Jerry Gray in an article for The Forestry Review, and it certainly holds true for him.

Jerry Gray was born in 1961 into a logging family. His great-grandpa Thrift helped build a railroad into Billy’s Island in the Okefenokee Swamp and later logged and helped settle it. His dad, W.C. Gray, worked in the log woods, even logging out west for a time, and started his own logging company in 1971, when Jerry was just 10 years old.

Since that age, Jerry has “lived" in the woods. At 13, he was using a chainsaw. At 15, he was driving a cable skidder. At 18, upon graduation, he was full-time in the woods. At age 40, he became the manager of Gray Logging, LLC. That was nearly 15 years ago.

During those 15 years, Jerry has been proud of the many achievements he and Gray Logging, LLC have accomplished. Under his leadership, the company has grown from one to two logging crews, 13 log trucks, one logging shop, and 26 employees. Gray Logging, LLC was Florida District Logger of the Year in 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2010. In 2010, the company was Florida Logger of the Year and in 2011 Southeastern Logger of the Year. Gray Logging, LLC was runner-up for the title of National Logger of the Year in 2011.

Jerry has been featured in Southern Logging Times and The Forestry Review. Jerry is a member of the American Loggers Council, the Florida Forestry Association, and serves as a board member for the Southeastern Wood Producers Association. He is also a certified tree farmer.

Today, Jerry still loves the woods as he did as a little boy. Today, combined with that love, Jerry has a passion, a knowledge, and the experience to handle various timber needs. He is excited about the future, helping land owners with their needs and being a part of Genesis Timber.