Johnston Murray
| Johnston Murray | |
|---|---|
| 14th Governor of Oklahoma | |
|
In office January 8, 1951 – January 10, 1955 |
|
| Lieutenant | James E. Berry |
| Preceded by | Roy J. Turner |
| Succeeded by | Raymond D. Gary |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
July 21, 1902 Emet, Johnston County, Indian Territory |
| Died | April 16, 1974 (aged 71) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Resting place | Tishomingo City Cemetery 34°13′38.6″N 96°40′43.3″W / 34.227389°N 96.678694°W |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | lawyer |
| Religion | Methodism |
| Son of former Oklahoma Governor William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray. | |
Johnston Murray (July 21, 1902 – April 16, 1974) was an American lawyer and the 14th governor of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as governor from 1951 to 1955. After his term ended, he worked as an attorney for the Oklahoma State Department of Welfare until his death on April 16, 1974.
His father, William H. Murray, was the ninth governor of Oklahoma and the president of the constitutional convention leading up to statehood. Both are buried in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
Murray was born July 21, 1902, in the mansion of the Chickasaw Nation's Governor at Emet, Johnston County, Indian Territory. His early education was governed by the location of the work of his famous father, former Gov. William H. Murray.
Murray married Marion Draughon of Sulphur, Oklahoma, in 1923, and had one child. After graduation from the Murray State School of Agriculture (now Murray State College) in 1924, he went to Bolivia where he lived for four years trying to make a success of his father's colonization expedition there. When he returned to Oklahoma, he worked in oil and gas fields, rising to the role of plant manager. Murray divorced his wife in 1929 and married Willie Roberta Emerson in 1933.
Murray received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1947. He was chairman of the Oklahoma Electoral College in 1940, and a member of the Electoral College again in 1948.
Before his election to governor, Murray served as Democratic chair of the Oklahoma Eighth Congressional District and as chair of local political groups in Kay and Oklahoma counties. He also served as chair of the Oklahoma Election Board and secretary of the Oklahoma Land Commission.
Murray served as governor from 1951 to 1955. He attempted to reduce state spending but was blocked by state legislators. Since he was prohibited, constitutionally, from succeeding himself, his wife Willie ran for governor in 1954 but failed to win. A few months later there was a bitter divorce with Willie accusing Murray of public drunkenness and adultery. The divorce was final in 1956 and he later married Helen Shutt. Murray moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and worked for an oil well servicing company and later with a limousine service. Murray returned to Oklahoma City and formed a law partnership with Whit Pate in February 1960. He ran for Oklahoma State Treasurer in 1962, surprisingly finishing last in the four-man Democratic primary field with 77,881 votes (18.24%). He later worked as a consulting attorney for the Oklahoma Department of Welfare.
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