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Call it the Utah Junior Duck Stamp Dynasty — just make sure to leave out the beards.
The Gray family of North Ogden continued its domination of the state's annual Junior Duck Stamp art contest this year when Brad, a sophomore at Weber High School, took home Best of Show honors for "Sunset Serenity" at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-sponsored contest.
Over the past seven years, three successive Gray siblings have won the state art contest, some twice — in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015.
Judges gathered recently at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to pick the best entries in each age group and the one art work that will head to the national competition.
This was not Brad Gray's first title.
In 2011, when he was just 12, Brad became the youngest winner ever of the Utah Junior Duck Stamp contest.
But just two months later, the victory was overshadowed when his older brother, Greg, died while trying to help their sister, Jaycee, who had slipped into a river swollen with runoff.
The family legacy has become a bittersweet tribute to Greg, who started the family tradition with a win in 2008.
"It means everything to me to carry out the family legacy," Brad said. "All my life, I've strived to improve my art talent in every way, and always remember the example both my brother, Greg, and my sister, Jaycee, have set for me."
Jaycee has also won the contest, with a work inspired by a picture from the family's Idaho cabin of a river at sunset. It's dedicated to Greg.
"Jaycee later painted this picture, and it means so much to us, because it reminds us of Greg out fishing in the river," Brad said. "When we look at that picture, we celebrate Greg's life and who he is. Greg set a great example for us all."
The younger brother used the picture in the background of his 2015 stamp — "with the green-wing teals ... the result was nothing short of astonishing."
Jaycee, now serving an LDS mission, won the 2012 Utah Junior Duck Stamp art contest and called it a tribute to the older brother who lost his life trying to protect her.
Brad finished first in his age group that year and second in Best of Show only to his sister.
Greg was the first Gray to win and Brad set the mark as the youngest in the state to win, but Jaycee was the first in the family to win the contest twice — she previously won in 2010.
With two more years of high school remaining, Brad has a chance to go for a triple or maybe even the ultimate prize: the national stamp.
Weber High School art teacher Daren Wilding has worked with all three Grays, and he believes it is entirely possible Brad could win again.
"I think he has a couple more in him. We have set our goal on the national competition. Everyone in the family wants it for Greg," said Wilding, who also serves as a judge for the annual Greg Gray Memorial Art Scholarship at Weber High. "What a great legacy they have. They are all incredible artists, really dedicated to their work."
Having Brad's work picked for the next national Junior Duck Stamp would be wonderful, but the art of their lost son and the continued works of the surviving children are treasure enough for the Gray parents.
"Our home is filled with the beautiful artwork of our children," JeriAnn Gray said. "We have so much of Greg's art, and I am so thankful for that. The art we had and the art our family continues to make has been very helpful in coping with Greg's loss."
The Grays may need to add an extension to their house to accommodate all the art on its way.
Brad Gray considers his artwork a paean to his family, and shows no sign of stopping. "I will continue to carry on the legacy," he said.
Twitter: @BrettPrettyman —
Utah Junior Duck Stamp Contest ceremony
An awards ceremony for the Utah Junior Duck Stamp Contest will be held May 9 at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge west of Brigham City from 1-3 p.m.