Our Beloved Raymond Murski

Murski, Raymond A. Raymond A. Murski, 72, of Meridian, Tx., died Dec. 19 following an automobile accident. He was driving home from a deer hunt. A legend in the outdoors industry and a lifelong conservationist, his death is being mourned across the country. He owned Dallas-based Murski-Breeding Sales Co., Inc., one of America's largest and most successful sporting goods manufacturers' sales groups. He founded the company in 1971. He also owned Flint Creek Ranch in Bosque County. Ray was a larger-than-life personality.

Born in Brenham, the oldest of three boys, he learned salesmanship firsthand while working at his family's grocery. He began fishing with his parents on the Brazos River at an early age and got his first bird dog when he was 10. Ray earned a business degree from Texas A&M University. During Vietnam, he played football for the Army and served as a military courier for classified documents.

In his early sales career, he called on Sam Walton, who became a loyal customer. Walton was so taken with Ray that he encouraged the young salesman to invest in the IPO that would fund the expansion of Walmart. It was the first of Ray's many good business decisions. Always a competitor, Ray fished in the first professional bass tournament ever held and his friends include many professional fishing stars.

In 1995, he was inducted into the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. He's also in the Texas State Bass Tournament Hall of Fame and won several different divisions of that event, the world's oldest bass tournament. Bassmaster Magazine named him one of the 35 icons of bass fishing. In March, he received Park Cities Quail's Lifetime Sportsman Award named for T. Boone Pickens.

Ray served in many hunting, fishing and conservation organizations and generously supported them. Through his generosity, more than 50,000 children were given a chance to catch a fish, shoot at a target or actually participate in a hunting experience. Websites in the outdoors industry and wildlife conservation have posted Ray Murski tributes.

Survivors: Wife, Amanda K. Murski; son, Mike Murski; daughter, Sarah Murski Williams; son-in-law, Mike Williams; stepdaughter, Christie Louise Smith; grandchildren, Lauren Murski, Harrison Murski, Gage Williams and Hudson Williams; brothers, Tom Murski and wife, Pamela, Matt Murski and wife, Kelly. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Albina Murski.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , the Louis Schreiner Youth Deer Hunt sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association or to the Ray Murski Memorial Fund set up through Inwood National Bank in Dallas. Details by calling 214-351-7250.

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Video With Ray Murski