Phillip Gregory

Phillip Eugene (Buddy) Gregory, 71, of Laytonsville, died December 15 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital as the result of complications from an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Born May 30 1934, in Washington D.C., he was the son of William Roy and Susan Bruner Gregory. Suffered Polio at 18 months and lived a very active life in spite of his physical disabilities. Mr. Gregory was a life-long Washington Metro area resident, graduated from McKinley Tech and attended Wilson Teachers College.

He was the beloved husband of Jeannine Hannabass Gregory. They were married 48 years.

Mr. Gregory joined the United States Air Force in 1956 and was honorably discharged for his physical disability.

He enjoyed being an independent American businessman and during his career was instrumental in establishing S&G Inc. in 1957 with John Seitz; Circle 4 property management company with Ron Magaha; Cornerstone Inc., still a thriving business in upper Montgomery County under the leadership of Ron Magaha; and Associated Auctioneers and Appraisers trading as Gregory & Warfield Auctions in 1995 with Dennis Warfield.

In 1963 he and his wife bought and established Cuttin Corners farm, where he bred, raised, and showed national champion American Quarter Horses. He was a member of the Maryland and American Quarter Horse Associations. It was at this time that he became interested and involved with livestock auctions.

He attended the Superior School of Auctioneering in Illinois in 1968 and began his long auctioneering career in Howard and Montgomery Counties. He expanded from livestock to estates, machinery, and antiques. Today, his partner is his son, Roy.

He enjoyed working with various 4-H clubs while his children were growing up and later as the livestock auctioneer for the 4-H clubs at Montgomery Co., Howard Co., and Damascus Community Fairs. He had a long love of the Montgomery County Fair and served as a board member in the 1990s and chairman of the entertainment committee from 1993-95 and introduced the PRCA Rodeo to Montgomery Co. Fair.

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory were charter members of Laytonsville Baptist Church.

Mr. Gregory began playing bluegrass music as a teenager in Washington, D.C. and continued to play the guitar and sing throughout his whole life.

As a businessman Mr. Gregory believed in giving back and worked for a few years as the auctioneer for the Rally Around the Redskins charity for the Ronald McDonald House. He also has worked for many years through his auction business and the Auctioneers Association of Maryland to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

He was a member of the National Auctioneers Association and the Auctioneers Association of Maryland Inc. (AAM). AAM awarded Mr. Gregory Auctioneer of the Year 1998, he was inducted into the Maryland auction hall of fame in 2003 for lifetime achievement. He was a member of Pentalpha Lodge #194, Grand Lodge, A.F.&A.M. of Maryland.

Mr. Gregory was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William LeRoy, Charles Lewis and James Bruner; and daughter Dinah Allyn.

Mr. Gregory is survived by his wife; sisters, June Caldow, Myrna Fitzgerald (Ray); children, Eydie Renee Gregory Searles (Dan), Jenny Suzanne Gregory, and Roy James Gregory (Kim); godson Michael Huntt; three granddaughters, Corey, Annie, and Jordan; two grandsons, Daniel and Colson; many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation at 10920 Connecticut Ave., Suite 1600, Kensington, MD 20895-1600.

Memorial service will be held at Tri-County Baptist Church, 7821 Damascus Road, Laytonsville, Md. 20882 on Wednesday, December 21 at 10:30 a.m.