Hunt, Herbert and Floyd C. Kaylor. Washington: West of the Cascades. Vol. III. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917. p.602-603. GAY, JUDGE WILSON RILEY Wilson Riley Gay, formerly judge of the superior court for King county, retired from the bench in 1912 to enter upon the private practice of law, to which he is now devoting his energies. He had been for four years actively connected with the judiciary and his record for just and equitable decisions based upon a comprehensive knowledge of the law is unassailable. His decisions indicated strong mentality, careful analysis and an unbiased judgment. He possesses that broad-mindedness which not only comprehends the details of a situation quickly but which insures a complete self-control under even the most exasperating conditions. He is now accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage, for he is one of the foremost lawyers of the northwest and he is also equally well known as a public speaker. Judge Gay was born January 10, 1859, on a farm on French creek, in the extreme eastern part of Erie county, Pennsylvania, near Mill Village. He acquired a common school education, supplemented by study in the Edinboro State Normal School of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and as a young man he took up the profession of teaching in Erie county, being thus engaged for a year. At the age of eighteen he severed ties in the east and removed to Maryville, Nodaway county, Missouri, where he taught school for a year and studied law in the office and under the direction of Judge Scribner R. Beech, being admitted to the bar in November, 1879, when twenty years of age. He lived in Missouri, much of the time in Rock Port, Atchison county, until the fall of 1888. It was at that time that Judge Gay removed to the northwest, settling first at Portland, Oregon, where he lived for a year, engaged in the real estate business as a temporary makeshift. In the fall of 1889 he removed to Port Angeles, where he resided and engaged in the practice of law until 1893. During that period he was United States circuit court commissioner and the principal officer before whom settlers proved titles to lots on that government townsite. In 1893 he came to Seattle to engage in the practice of law, forming a partnership with Edward Brady, under the firm name of Brady & Gay. Here a liberal challenge of an important character was accorded him and his ability brought him prominently to the front. In 1897 he was appointed United States attorney for the district of Washington, which then comprised the entire state, and in that position he remained until July, 1902. In the fall of 1909 he was elected judge of the superior court for King county, which position he held until May, 1912, when he resigned to reenter practice. Judge Gay is a stockholder and one of the directors of the Post-Intelligencer Publishing Company and has other important financial and property interests, but he regards the practice of law as his real life work. He has in an eminent degree that rare ability of saying in a convincing way the right thing at the right time. His mind is analytical, logical and inductive. With a thoroughly and comprehensive knowledge of the fundamental principles of law he combines a familiarity with statutory law and a sober, clear judgment which makes him not only a formidable adversary in legal combat but gave him that distinction, while on the bench, of having few of his decisions revised or reversed. He is a well known writer on legal subjects and his articles on automobile law are now being published in the Post-Intelligencer. Judge Gay was married in 1890 to Miss Lillian B. Rudd and they have a daughter, Hazel, now the wife of Rollin R. Humber, of Deer Lodge, Montana. Judge Gay is a member of various secret societies and is also popular in club circles. He is a republican active in the party, and since the admission of Washington to the statehood he has been a delegate to all county and state conventions. His services are always in demand as a public speaker and his addresses are listened to with interest and characterized by the strictest logic. Always courteous and pleasant, he represents the type of "old school" chivalry and courtesy, having the faculty of placing anyone at ease in his presence, so that it is a pleasure to meet and converse with him. The circle of his friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance. Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.