Laurence W. Murray Jr.

Laurence William “Bill” Murray Jr. of San Francisco, CA, died peacefully Saturday, September 10th at his home in the arms of his wife, P. Roseanna Hughes.

Bill was born February 14, 1940, in Indianapolis to LW Murray Sr. and Lois E Trafford and raised in Belmond, IA. Bill was multi-talented in many respects; he was quarterback of the high school football team starting in 9th grade, a standout in the classroom, the music scene, and an Eagle Scout attending national and world jamborees. He subsequently attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he earned a B.A. in Business and explored his musical talents further, becoming the second tenor in the Mark Five Quintette, traveling the US with the Benny Goodman band at college homecomings, and performing as a solo group at the Black Orchid in Chicago. He went on to earn his M.S. at the University of Missouri and his Ph.D. in Economics and Finance at Clark University.

In 1978, Bill moved to San Francisco to take a professorship at the University of San Francisco, where he eventually became the Associate Dean of the College of Business. He went on to spend 30 years at USF contributing to further education (along with a treasured stint working with the hometown 49’ers NFL franchise). He was actively involved during his time in San Francisco with the University of California Berkeley, Beijing Institute for Foreign Trade, Fudan University, China Resources, and enjoyed a 17 year relationship with Hochschule Ludwigshafen am Rhein, where he helped establish the first US MBA program in Germany.

Bill was an avid traveler and resident of the world in his work, visiting over 60 countries in his lifetime. He drove to, around, or through every state of our Grand Nation. In his final years, he invited his friends to his ever-famous man cave to enjoy a Giants, Warriors, 49ers, or college football game.

Bill is survived by his wife, P. Roseanna Hughes, brother John T. Murray (Bonnie), sister Kathryn LaBouff; sister-in-law Sandra Simerson Nelson, daughter Brenda Pros (Randy), Jenny Murray, Stepchildren, AnnaRose Hughes (Keith), Sabina Trygstad, Chris Trygstad and grandchildren Larissa, Beau, Tommy, Zack, and Dakota, beloved nieces and nephews and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Laurie Murray, his brother-in-law Gary LaBouff, his best friend Alev Efendioglu and beloved former wife, Sara Simerson Murray.

There will be a celebration in his honor at University of San Francisco’s Lone Mountain on Friday, September 30th at 2pm, Room 100.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the USF School of Management Graduate Scholarships in memory of Laurence William Murray, Jr, at USF 2130 Fulton St., San Francisco, CA 94117-1080.