John Gray

John G. Gray has joined Admar Corp. in Santa Ana as president of its managed health care division. Before joining the company, Gray was director of strategic development of a preferred provider organization for Cigna-Equicor based in Los Angeles. Before that, he held marketing and sales positions with Equicor and PPO development and sales positions with Equitable Life Assurance.

In Tom Shales' June 15 commentary, he remarked on the trend of local TV newscasts to promote entertainment. Now I know why I seldom watch the local news. All the while I thought it was my disgust over their emphasis on the local scene of murder, rape and mayhem. I'll stay with the network news. If there's any important local news, they'll report it. John R. Gray, Huntington Beach

Dobie Gray, a smooth balladeer and soul singer who scored his biggest hit in the early 1970s with "Drift Away," has died. He was 71. Gray, who had cancer, died Tuesday at his Nashville home, said Charlie Andrews, his attorney. Before he adopted the name of Dobie Gray — a nod to sitcom character Dobie Gillis — the singer recorded under other names before breaking through with 1965's "The 'In' Crowd," which became a top 20 hit. He also had success that year with "See You at the Go-Go.

Robert E. Gray, who with his wife founded upscale women's clothier St. John Knits International Inc. four decades ago, will retire at the end of the year, the Irvine company said Thursday. The announcement comes five months after Gray, 75, stepped aside as chief executive and was succeeded by Hugh Mullins, a former Neiman Marcus executive. St. John said then that Gray, who had retained his role as board chairman, would remain active with the company. A statement released by St.