ADA, Okla. – East Central University alumnus, Duane Murray, is set to be honored at ECU’s Evening of Honors and Recognition May 10 at 6 p.m. in the ECU Foundation Hall, located inside the Chickasaw Business & Conference Center.
“I am humbled to be included with such an accomplished group of recipients.” stated Murray, who is a 1972 graduate from ECU, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science.
As an undergraduate, Murray participated in the Honors program, worked as a computer lab assistant, served as president of the Delta Chi fraternity and married Linda Durham, his college sweetheart, in 1969.
“ECU was formative in my life. I met the mother of my children there, made lifelong friends there, and got the educational background I needed to succeed in business.” said Murray.
After his time at ECU, Murray chose to remain a part of the Ada community. He began his career by starting Computer Utility Corporation, one of the first Apple computer stores in Oklahoma and was responsible for outfitting the schools in Pontotoc County with their first Apple computers. In 1982, Duane established Computel, which was the only way to get discounted long distance telephone service in Ada, at the time.
In 1988 Duane sold both companies and joined Moon-Baker Agency as a commercial insurance agent. In 1999, he established the Murray/Wamble Insurance Agency in Tulsa, which sold in 2023.
During his years in Ada, Murray served as a board member and legislative chairman for the Ada Chamber of Commerce where he worked to establish the Ada Softball Association and ran the City of Ada softball program for ten years, which included over 50 teams for men, women, co-ed and youth. He also worked with the city of Ada to write a federal grant application that helped fund the four fields built at Matthews Park. In 1976 he was named the Oklahoma Softball Association Commissioner of the Year and was inducted into the Oklahoma Softball Hall of Fame in 2006. In 1989, he also founded the Ada Youth Baseball Association and oversaw the Harry Brecheen youth baseball field that same year.
Throughout the years, Murray has served as President of the Ada Kiwanis, First United Methodist Church of Ada Finance Committee and President and Board member of Southern Oklahoma Addiction Recovery. He has also been a member of the ECU Tip-In Booster Club, ECU President’s Circle and the ECU Foundation.
To honor his late wife, who graduated from ECU in 1989 with a degree in music as well as a master’s degree in Flute from the University of Oklahoma in 1992, the Linda Murray Flute scholarship at ECU was endowed by Duane in 2013.
In 2021 he established and, with community help, endowed the ECU Information Technology Scholarship.
“I am so appreciative of the opportunities ECU provided me and continues to provide for the many students from small communities everywhere,” Murray concluded.
Murray has three sons, Sean, Zac and Scott. In 2022 Duane married retired ECU Associate Professor, Dr. Marty Pennington.
To purchase tickets for ECU Evening of Honors and Recognition, visit ecok.edu/2024EOH or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@ecok.edu or at 580-559-5724. Advanced tickets are recommended.