John Thomas Murray

John was born in Oklahoma on December 17, 1946, to John Lane Murray and Nora Jo Sain Murray. He lived with his grandparents in Oklahoma when he was in the first grade. He talked about how he would walk to school with his Aunts Jean and Mick and Uncle Jack who were older. He completed his education in Dumas, Texas, graduating in 1965. During his high school years, he played football and was a member of the Dumas Demons Class AAA, State Champions 1961-1962 football team and was also a member of the District Champions for track as a high jumper in 1964. After high school, John attended Texas Tech University and Durham’s Business School, Austin

After moving to Austin, he was employed by Ray Goodson Equipment Company as a mechanic, salesman and general manager. During this time, John became a member of the Travis County Fire Control (TCFC) volunteer fire department. He was a Firefighter, Lieutenant and Captain of Company 4 Engine Company, and Captain of Squad 1 Rescue Squad. He also served on the Board of Directors for TCFC for several years. He became a Certified Volunteer Firefighter by the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshals’ Association (1976). In addition, he was certified as an Emergency Care Attendant (1975), Emergency Medical Technician (1976) and EMS Course Coordinator (1977) by the Texas Department of Health (TDH).

In 1978, John was hired by the Travis County Commissioners Court as the first Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordinator later changing to EMS Director. He served as the liaison between the Commissioners Court and 16 volunteer fire departments, 12 rural fire prevention districts, three emergency service districts, and supervised 250 volunteer state EMS personnel. He served as a member of the Austin EMS Quality Assurance Team; TDH Bureau of Emergency Management EMS Providers Committee and the Committee on Personnel Certification and School Accreditation; Capital Area Planning Council (CAPCO) EMS Advisory Council, EMS Training Committee, Disaster Planning Committee, and Budget Committee; Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) EMS Training Committee; Austin/Travis County 911 Committee; Travis County Disaster Planning Committee; and American College of Emergency Physicians EMS Committee.

He was a founding member of the Texas Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (TAEMT). He served as Regional Chair, Parliamentarian, a member of the Executive Council, Legislative Committee Chairman, and two terms as President. He was presented with the President’s Award for Excellence, outstanding service to EMS by TAEMT. John also competed in several TAEMT Region 9 Annual Wilderness Rescue Competitions at Garner State Park.

He was also a charter member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). He served on numerous committees, the Board of Governors, the Board of Directors, and as President. He was presented with the Jeffery S. Harris Award for outstanding local leadership and the Stephen A. Frew Award for outstanding national leadership.

In addition, John was a member of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians and a founding member of the Texas Society of Emergency Medical Service Educators.

In 1985, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a new program within the EMS Department – STAR (Shock Trauma Air Rescue) Flight for Central Texas. This program was developed through a cooperative effort of Travis County, the City of Austin’s EMS, and Brackenridge Hospital. John was responsible for coordinating the purchase of two helicopters, hiring helicopter pilots, establishment of maintenance facilities and staff, and working with staff at Austin EMS and Brackenridge Hospital. In 1985, John also completed his education as a Paramedic at Austin Community College.

In 1991, John was nominated by NAEMT to lead a delegation of EMS and medical personnel to the Soviet Union for the purpose of exchanging information on EMS delivery. The delegation was sponsored by the Ambassador Program of People to People International, a program initially formed in 1956 by President Eisenhower. The 37 member delegation represented 23 states and traveled to Moscow, Kharkov (now known Kharkiv), Leningrad (now known as St. Petersburg) and Heidelberg, Germany. The delegates held meetings with heads of health services, hospital personnel, and communications center and EMS station staff.

After leaving his employment with Travis County, John worked for the TDH Bureau of Emergency Management. He developed and delivered a variety of emergency response training programs throughout Texas. He also worked as a Grant Program Manager for a State funded grant project benefiting emergency responders throughout the State. Prior to the 1996 Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia, the Olympic Torch Relay traveled through Texas. John was part of the team of EMS personnel that escorted the Torch Bearers through the State.

In 1997, John became the Director of EMS for the Corpus Christi Fire Department (CCFD). In addition to the duties of EMS Director, he also coordinated the City’s Metropolitan Medical Response System Grant part of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He also coordinated all of the DHS grants for the City and coordinated the activities of the City’s Office of Emergency Management. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina made a second landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi. A large number of survivors traveled via plane, from Louisiana and made their way to Corpus Christi. John worked with other city personnel to ready Memorial Coliseum, the American Bank Center, and local churches and schools to receive over 500 people. The formation of the Lifeguard Program through CCFD was another accomplishment of John’s. He was responsible for hiring the staff, having the stands built, and the purchasing of all of the necessary equipment the new lifeguards would need to carry out their job duties.

John also shared his EMS training by volunteering at Austin Aqua Festival and at University of Texas Football games as part of UT EMS. He also coached Pop Warner Football, Youth Basketball and Baseball.

After his retirement from EMS, his next job was spoiling his grandchildren. Whether it was swimming at the house, buying out the fireworks stand on the 4th of July, carving pumpkins, decorating the trailer for Halloween and driving them through the neighborhood to Trick or Treat, Nerf Gun fights, decorating the Polaris for Christmas, attending soccer games, football games, track meets, cheer competitions, dance recitals, band concerts, theater productions, photography competitions or teaching them to shoot BB guns he was there.

His love of goose and duck hunting are evident with the mounts on the walls of our house. He also was the happiest guy around when we moved to the Texas coast because he would be able to fish whenever he got the chance. He liked nothing better than hunting and fishing with his sons and his friend, David and his boys. In addition to being a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and a friend he was also a protector, a leader, a teacher, a coach, and a volunteer.

John is predeceased by his parents Jay and Jo Murray, his father-in-law Arthur Burris, and his son-in-law David Dooley. He is survived by his wife, Debbie; his son John Murray (Julia), his daughter Becca Dooley, and his son Jason Watson (Lisa); his grandchildren Jordan Watson, Gracie Watson, Haley Murray, Alyssa and Emilie Watson, Aidan Murray, Jacob Dooley, and Caleb and Logan Dooley; his sister, Shirley Harvey (Sammy), sister-in-law June Gray (Scotty), nieces, nephews, and cousins. John is also survived by John and Becca’s mom, Martha Libby.

Pallbearers will be Lucas Cooksey, Joshua Cooksey, Andrew Tredemeyer, James Allen, Marvin Ragsdale, and Dustin Ragsdale.

A thank you to Dr. Shelly Day Ghafoori, the doctors, nurses, and staff of Texas Oncology (Dr. Yau), NEXT Oncology (Dr. Vandross), Dr. Ryan Vancura, Dr. Sushil Duddempudi, and Altus Hospice who treated and helped John during his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, or St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital.

Casual attire – fishing shirts, camo shirts, jeans, or shorts.

A gathering of family and friends for Johnny will be held Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. A service honoring Johnny and celebrating his life will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Murray family.