Tom Gray was educated at the Roebourne State School. He was the son of a white father and an Aboriginal mother. His father's name was Richard Vicars and was also known as Richard Gray. He married a woman named Ida Harris. Ida Harris was campaigner for Aboriginal citizenship rights and the need for her children to receive an education.
Tom Gray became a stockman, working at Anna Plains, south of Broome. As the head stockman at the station in the 1930s, he was regarded as one of the finest horsemen and cattlemen of his time. Tom Gray had two older brothers named Frank and Richard ("Dick") Gray and four sisters named Clarra, Margaret, Dorris and Rosie. He also had a daughter named Winnie Gray and two sons named Donald Gray and Tom Gray Jnr.
Gray enlisted in the Second World War and died serving with the AIF in Egypt. During the time Gray spent droving and in the AIF, he wrote a number of poems.
