I believe you, and I don't doubt for a second when you say Judge Gray is a good man. However, anyone living in the Kansas City area who has read Lewis Diuguid's columns knows the man sees a racist conspiracy under every rock, and behind every blade of grass. Quite frankly reading his columns really boring after reading them for one week. One knows exactly what to expect.
Nobody "deserves" a position based on skin tone alone. Even Martin Luther King Jr. asserted that view. And the position appears to be more honorary and reflective of abilities as recognized by peers, than anything that should be subject to 'affirmative action'.