On this date, August 15, 2017, we celebrate the life and legacy of our founder, Melvin J. (Jack) Murdock, by honoring what would be his 100th birthday.
To those that knew him, he was often described as a caring, generous, and incredibly thoughtful man. Here at the Trust, it’s common for Jack to come up in everyday conversation when referring to a spirit of generosity, thoughtfulness, and great care. And his legacy continues to reach across the Pacific Northwest and beyond through our partnerships with the nonprofit organizations we are proud to serve.
Happy birthday, Jack, and thanks for thinking ahead and investing in the common good!
Find more information on Jack and the impact his life had:
Oregon Health and Science University: Finding Jack Murdock
He remains a force for discovery, education and human enrichment long after his untimely death in 1971, thanks to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust’s stewardship of his legacy. On the centennial of Murdock’s birth on August 15, 1917, there’s no better time to look back on this extraordinary life and its ongoing impacts across the Pacific Northwest.
OregonBusiness.com: Tektronix Founder’s Centennial Prompts Ode to STEM Education
Murdock was both an idealist and a realist, and relentlessly sought new insights in all areas of his life. He believed in science as a main source of knowledge and in knowledge as a key ingredient to addressing and solving our world’s issues and challenges.
The Nonprofit Association of Oregon: M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Celebrates 40 Years of Impact
Before the Trust’s founding, Jack Murdock was heard saying, “I can’t imagine what the world will be like 40 years from now.” Through his will, he entrusted Murdock staff and Trustees to steward the organization with care, thoughtful planning and purposeful risk.
The Columbian: Murdock Trust: A Vancouver powerhouse of charitable giving
“I would like to learn all there is to know about radio,” he wrote while a teenager. “I shall probably make some inventions. I have at present several ideas for inventions which, if put into use, would be of great benefit for the people of the world.”
