James Bray
James A. Bray was the first president of Miles Memorial College. Under his leadership, the Booker City High School expanded its curriculum to encompass secondary subjects in the liberal arts, laying the groundwork for the college, which moved to Fairfield shortly after it was granted its charter.
Bray, a graduate of Atlanta University, had, since 1903, been president of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. He came to Miles in 1907 and remained president until 1912, when he was removed by a vote of the trustees and replaced by William A. Bell. His dismissal was, according to him, linked to his criticism of George W. Stewart, a Bishop of the Colored Methodist Episcopal church who served the college as treasurer.
Bray's brother, R. L. Bray, was also a minister of the CME church.