Thomas Murnane

1926 - 2017

Thomas G. Murnane FORT WORTH --Thomas Murnane, DVM, Brigadier General, US Army (retired) passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home on the afternoon of Thursday, July 13, 2017. SERVICE: A visitation and rosary will begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 19, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Interment: 1:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. MEMORIALS: Constance Pollock Murnane Excellence in English Scholarship Fund at the University of the Incarnate Word, 4301 Broadway St., San Antonio, 78209; or the Humane Society of North Texas, 1840 E Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, 76103. Tom, the son of Thomas G. Murnane, SR. and Ellecia Catherine Donohue, was born May 5, 1926, in Dallas, Texas. Tom attended Holy Trinity Catholic grade school in Dallas and was a lifelong supporter of his North Dallas High School Bulldogs. Tom attended Texas A&M College for undergraduate studies and graduated from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine in 1947. Tom worked as a general practitioner in Brenham, Texas, his first year out of school. An urge to travel led him to join the US/Mexico Commission for the Foot and Mouth Disease Epidemic. In his later years, Tom enjoyed regaling his family and friends (particularly the grandchildren) with his wild stories of adventure through the back country of old Mexico. This two-year period in Tom's life led to a lifelong appreciation of the Mexican people and their culture. Tom's fluency in Spanish served him in many capacities throughout his life. Subsequently, Tom was commissioned into the United States Army Veterinary Corps at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. This began a long and distinguished military and professional career spanning 31 years. Tom served his country and his state by striving to protect public health. From San Antonio Tom went to Washington, D.C., and it was there at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., that Tom met and courted the love of his life, Constance Marie Pollock. Tom and Connie were married in 1953 and shared 61 years of loving devotion. They had multiple assignments, including Fort Sam Houston, Panama Canal Zone, Chicago and the Washington, D.C., area. During their time in the Washington area, Tom served one year in Vietnam with the 9th Field Medical Lab. His military career culminated in 1976 when Tom was appointed Brigadier General, Chief of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. His four years spent at the Pentagon were one of the highlights of his career. Upon his retirement from the Army, Tom continued his veterinary career serving in several public health positions. Tom and Connie left their home of 17 years in Bethesda, Md., for a three-year adventure in Mexico City where Tom worked with an international agency for development of veterinary services in that region. Tom and Connie returned to the States in 1983, choosing to live the remainder of their years in Fort Worth. It was here where Tom served for the Texas Dept. of Public Health and was also the director of the Humane Society of North Texas. Tom's many professional awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the Meyer-Steele Gold Head Cane Award from the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society. Upon his "final" retirement, Tom remained active in numerous volunteer capacities, namely, Fort Worth Zoo Docents program and the Bass Hall Children's programs. Tom was also an active member in his local Ridglea Country Club Estates homeowners' association. Tom and Connie were very involved in their beloved Holy Family Parish and school. Tom's family would like to acknowledge the compassionate support of VITAS Hospice and Community Hospice of Fort Worth and their many devoted caregivers. The family would also like to recognize Dad's selfless caregivers, including Brenda Wiley and Lawanda Bender. Tom was affectionately known as "Big Daddy" to his 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ellecia Kleuser Hall; and his beloved wife, Connie. SURVIVORS: Tom is survived by his children, Mary Muller, Constance and husband, David Richardson, Tom and wife, Melissa Murnane, Ellecia Parker and Margaret Sadler. Tom is also survived by his 12 grandchildren and their spouses; 12 great-grands; his precious sister, Midge Yoxall; and many nieces and nephews.