Everett Gray began his career in the 1920's as a clerk at Fitzsimmons Steel Co. a cold-drawn bar mill in Youngstown, Ohio. Later on he moved into sales and, during World War II joined Warren City Boiler Co. which held contracts to construct ships for the U.S. Navy.

After the war, Gray went into sales for Edgar T. Ward's Sons Co. in Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio. By 1947 he was manager of the branch in Dayton Ohio, and manager of area sales for Columbia Steel and Shafting Co. Over time mergers took place, the ward warehouses were sold until only the Dayton facility remained. This facility specialized in steel tubing and cold drawn bars; Gray purchased this facility in 1950 and renamed it Ward Steel Service Co. 

Over the years the business grew, and in 1980 was moved to a larger area in Moraine, Ohio just south of Dayton. In 1980, Everett passed after more than 50 years contributed to the steel business. From 1980 to 2021, Edman Gray ran the organization alongside his brother John C. Gray.  In 2022, Ward Steel Service Corp. became Ward Steel Corp. under the ownership of Gray America Corp.