The sound of footprints break the silence as he steps towards the turf. No one else is present; just the coach and his field. Deliberating over the upcoming season, he is filled with hope that the team will show up ready to plan, practice, and perform. Coaching is an opportunity to pour into those ready for molding… and patience, along with steadfastness, is key. Commissioner Matt Gray grew up in East Montgomery County playing sports allowing him to learn the virtues of coaching and teamwork from a young age, and it’s reflected in his commitment to his community. With the continued growth seen over the past ten years, the commissioner’s job is one of patience, planning, and performance.
Commissioner Gray is no stranger to the development that Porter and New Caney has seen since his childhood. Driving to Humble for dining and shopping was the norm, because EMC lacked the opportunity Humble afforded with places like Deerbrook Mall, Chili’s, or Asian City. He played EMC sports, as most children from the community do, and learned teamwork and goals. After graduating from New Caney High School, Commissioner Gray was accepted to Sam Houston State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business and earned a Project Management Professional accreditation. During a successful career in the oil and gas industry, his position taught him how to plan global multimillion-dollar projects and manage day-to-day operations. He credits his O&G experience as the reason he’s able to successfully complete the day-to-day operations as County Commissioner in a business fashion.
“I have deep roots in this area, and I was told at a young age to go out and make a difference. My love and desire for East Montgomery County to be a resilient county for my kids to live, work, and play is the legacy I want to leave.”
Commissioner Gray still feeds his virtues of patience, planning, and performance with active hobbies such as fishing and hunting, but since adding a family to the mix, you may also see him on the sidelines at an EMCSA little league game wearing a coach’s hat, jogging around the neighborhood, or maybe enjoying some chips and queso from La Casita in Porter.
In his experience, leaving his hometown to venture off to college, then learning to navigate life in the real world is something Commissioner Gray believes every young adult should try. Experiencing the change needed to thrive in a new city, with new surroundings, and different vibes will inevitably cause growth… and growth is what is needed to flourish in most any life scenario.
Porter and New Caney are flourishing now! This community is estimated to double in size over the next ten years, and the local officials must plan for what will be needed in 50 years to address the future for success. As one of the most prevalent and important tasks to date for many in our community, Commissioner Gray approved a drainage study for Precinct 4 (Porter, New Caney, and some surrounding areas). When completed, this project will identify areas prone to flooding and provide a drainage mitigation plan for the county drainage crews to implement. After the devastation of Harvey in 2017 was realized, the area then experienced more flooding from a random Tuesday rainstorm in 2019 that may have caused more damage to some than Harvey. This study will allow the county to identify those specific flood-prone locations and ensure steps are taken to execute an effective drainage plan for years to come.
Commissioner Gray is 'coaching' EMC to be great. He is reviewing the current state of our community, creating a plan for the expected growth, and focusing on current projects that need immediate attention. He is also a family man that loves spending time with his wife and kids. He’s a great example to them, and to every reader of hard work, persistence, dedication, planning, and performance. His virtues of effort have also resulted in the opportunity to look back on what he's been able to accomplish thus far and see the molding of a growing and thriving community.
"My love and desire for East Montgomery County to be a resilient county for my kids to live, work, and play is the legacy I want to leave."
