L. A. Murr

Lewis Adrian Murr L.A. Murr was born December 8, 1926, in Woodville, Oklahoma, to Lewis F. and Iola Murr. He married Johnnie Junkins on September 7, 1946. They had four children, Bill (now deceased), June, Ann and Mary. Mr. Murr moved to Dallas as a young man and began to work as an electrician when he and his brothers founded Murr Brothers Electric, one of the top 100 electrical companies in America, and where L.A. served as president from 1950 until he retired in 1991. L.A. was president of Murr Brothers Appliance Company from 1955-1960, which was one of the largest distributors in the metroplex during that time. During his career, Mr. Murr held many important positions within the electrical industry. He was the two-time president of the Independent Electrical Contractors Association and served as a board member until he retired. Outside of his service to the electrical industry, Mr. Murr held a number of positions within the civic government and civic services: President of the Southeast Dallas Chamber, Vice-President of the Greater East Dallas Chamber in charge of transportation, member of the National League of Cities Transportation Committee. He was also elected to the Dallas City Council in 1973, where he served two terms. While on the City Council, he served as Deputy Mayor Protem, and then later as Mayor Protem as well as many committees, including as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and serving on the Executive Board of North Central Council of Governments. His service also was felt in the medical community. Mr. Murr helped change the North Texas Hospital Control Committee so that other hospitals could build in the Dallas area. He servedon the board of the Southeast Methodist Hospital, the Pension and Personnel Board of the Central Methodist Hospital System and as a member of the City Hospital Committee. L. A. Murr was a devout Christian. He became a Christian at age 12 at First Baptist Church Woodville, OK. Over the years, he was involved in the music program of the church, singing in the choir and in quartets. When he became a member of Pleasant Dale Baptist Church, he served as their Sunday School Director. While he was there the church grew from 12 charter members to over 500. He also served as a Trustee, Deacon, on the Building Committee and by teaching classes. The next 25 years were spent at Bethany Baptist Church. He served as the Director of the Senior Department, taught a Young Men’s Class, director of Adult 2 and 4 Departments, and later the Singles Director. He served as Deacon Chairman, Chairman of the Pastor Search Committee and Search Committees for other staff members and Chairman of the Personnel Committee.He served as Chairman of the Building Committee and supervised the construction of the Adult/ Children Education Building, the remodeling of the Sunday School areas and the remodeling of the Sanctuary. He also served Bethany Baptist as the Church Outreach Director. After the death of his wife, Johnnie, he married Peggy Woods Walker in 1976 and became stepfather to Karen, Rhonda, Marian and triplet sons Edwin, Gregory and Michael Walker. L.A. and Peggy moved to Sunnyvale and joined First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale, where they both continued to serve. L.A. served as the director of the Senior Department and later as director of the Singles Department. He taught Sunday School classes and continued to be devoted to Visitation and Outreach as long as his health allowed. He served as a Deacon and the Elder Council. He helped negotiate real estate transactions and financial loans for building and expansion. Over the years, L.A. Murr received many awards and recognitions. Twice he received the Community Award by the Southeast Chamber and was made a Lifetime member of the Southeast Chamber. He received the Pioneer Award for the Electrical Association and was named Citizen of the Year by the West End Dallas Historic District. And he received recognition in D Magazine as one of the eight Most Influential Persons in Dallas. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, wife, Johnnie and his son, Bill. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; his children, June, Ann, Mary, Karen, Rhonda, Marian, Eddie, Greg, Michael and their spouses; 21 grandchildren and 16+ great-grandchildren. Visitation: Thurs., July 25, 5-7 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home, Sunnyvale, TX. Services: Fri., July 26, 10 a.m. at Sunnyvale Baptist Church. Accomplishments: ● Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Apprentice Committee of the Independent Electrical Contractors Association ● Chairman of the North Central Council of Governments Electrical Building Codes Committee ● Vice-Chairman of the North Central Texas Building Codes Committee ● Board member for the Dallas Electrical League ● Board of Northlake College while developing an electrical training program ● Chairman of the Streets and Highways Committee ● Chairman of two capital improvement programs for the County Road and Bridge District of Dallas County ● Texas Good Roads Associations and presented the Resurfacing Street Program for the City of Dallas, which was approved by the Dallas City Council ● Represented Dallas at the hearing for State Highway 352 and I-20 ● Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Board ● Member of the Finance Commission ● Vice-Chairman of the Operations Commission ● Helped find the location for the Judge Lew Sterrett Criminal Justice Center ● Board of Kiwanis, the Y.M.C.A and the Dallas Area Salvation Army (10 years) ● Board member of Commercial National Bank and later Skyline Savings ● Dallas Police & Fire Pension Board ● City Plan Commission ● Urban Rehab Board ● Central Highway Committee ● Special Commission for the establishment of the DART system ● Trinity River Wastewater Treatment Board ● State Manpower Services Board ● Chairman of the Hospital Committee and Hospital Authority ● Commission to recommend policy and routes for the DART system in Dallas ● Internal Governmental Affairs Committee ● Animal Control Committee ● Ad Hoc Committee on Inebriates ● Chair of the Community Development Committee ● Two-time Chairman of the Dallas County Grand Jury commission ● Chairman of the County Condemnation Court ● Represented Dallas at the State Legislature for Criminal Justice Legislation.