Senator Donald W. Murray View All Years

DONALD W. MURRAY

Donald W. Murray was born on June 1, 1923, in Bancroft, Iowa, to W. Arthur and Elizabeth McDonald Murray. He passed away on December 26, 2006, at the age of 83. He is survived by his wife, Ardelle, of Ankeny, Iowa; three sons, Michael and his wife, Natalie, of Shakopee, Minnesota, Bryan and his wife, Patti, of Meredith, New Hampshire, and Stephen of Burnsville, Minnesota; two daughters, Michele Beavers and her husband, Kirk, of Ankeny, Iowa, and Diana Gleim and her husband, Max, also of Ankeny, Iowa; and five grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers John of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and James of Bethesda, Maryland.

Murray graduated from St. John’s High School in Bancroft. He attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He served in the United States Army for two and a half years during World War II. He married Ardelle Fischer of Lone Rock, Iowa, on February 22, 1950.

Murray was a co-owner of the Murray Elevator in Bancroft, along with his brother Joe. After the death of his brother, the business was sold. In 1969 he moved to Ankeny and worked for the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 1990.

Murray was an active member of his community when he was living in Bancroft. He was on the Bancroft city council for 12 years, serving as mayor for two years. He was a member of the Iowa Grain and Feed Dealers Association and was president of the Farmers Independent Credit Corporation. He served for 14 years as a member of the board of trustees for the municipal electric plant. Murray served as commander of the American Legion Post 377 and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

While living in Ankeny, Murray was a member of Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 44 in Bayard, and American Legion Post 42 in Ankeny. He also served as a postal union steward.

In 1961 he ran for the United States Congress from the Sixth Congressional District, but lost. Murray was elected to the Iowa Senate in 1964, representing Humboldt and Kossuth counties. He had a passion for service to veterans and made the upgrade and maintenance of the Iowa Veterans Cemetery the goal of his adult life. He loved his family, politics, baseball, and fishing with his grandson.

Murray was a Kossuth County Democrat. He served one term in the Senate from 1965-1968 during the 61st and 62nd General Assemblies.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Donald W. Murray, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

E. THURMAN GASKILL

JOHN P. KIBBIE

AMANDA RAGAN

Committee