INA - A starlight gala next month will honor the life and legacy of former U.S. Rep. Ken Gray.

Marleis Trover of Vienna and Maxine Pyle of Johnston City, authors of the newly penned "Pass the Plate," have organized the event, slated to begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Rend Lake Resort Conference Center. The event will celebrate the release of the book, Gray's scholarship fund and his birthday earlier this month.

"We're excited," Trover said. "We're just really excited."

A $50 ticket to the event will cover the cost of a meal and a copy of the new book. Books will be autographed by the two authors and Gray himself.

"He's confident he's going to sign every copy," Trover said.

In addition to members of the public, the state's 21 federal legislators and a bevy of state officials and past politicians, including President Bill and Hillary Clinton, have been invited to the gala.

Glenn Poshard, president of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a former congressman, will serve as master of ceremonies.

For ticket information, contact Trover at 618-527-5060 or Pyle at 618-983-3422.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

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