Samuel Eugene "Gene" Murphree Jr.

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Samuel Murphree Obituary

SAMUEL EUGENE "GENE" MURPHREE, JR. passed from this life June 1, 2003, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born September 1, 1923, in Medicine Mound, Texas and moved to Houston in January 1933. He was preceded in death by his father, S.E. Murphree; mother, Marie Thomas Murphree; sister, Patsy Murphree Minor; and daughter, Eileen Murphree McMillin. He married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Alessandra in November 1944 while in the Army at Camp Carson, Colorado. They had a son, Dennis and a daughter, Eileen. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; son, Dennis and wife, Penny; and grandchildren, Patrick Murphree, and wife, Stacey, Megan Murphree, Michael McMillin and wife, Miranda, and Kathryn McMillin House and husband, Tim. Mr. Murphree graduated from Sam Houston High School and received a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from Texas A&M University (College) in 1948. He served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He formed Polmur Construction Company, with Joe Polichino, in 1949 and closed the company when recalled to active duty in January 1951. He worked for W.S. Bellows Construction Corporation and LeBlanc Incorporated before forming Gene Murphree General Contractor in 1954. The company became Gene Murphree Corporation in 1961. He was a member of River Oaks Country Club and was elected to three terms as a director, and one term as president. He was a former member of the Coronado Club, The Houston Club, Houston Yacht Club, Lakewood Yacht Club, Houston Engineering and Scientific Society, and Memorial Drive Country Club. He served as both a Scout Master and Cub Scout Master for troops based at Hunters Creek Elementary School in Spring Branch. He was a member of The Seventh of April Club, Commanderie De Bordeaux and Confrerie Des Chevalier Du Tastevin Wine Groups. He was a life member of the Consulting Constructors Council of America, an Honorary Life Member of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and a member of the CIAC Group in the Construction Science program at Texas A&M College of Architecture. He has served as both Chairman of the Heart Fund and Chairman of the Board of: The Houston Chapter American Heart Association; Director American Diabetes Association, Houston Chapter; Director Dad's Club YMCA; Commissioner Spring Branch Community Football League; member, Governor Mark White's Immigration Task Force; member, Southwest Region Committee for Accreditation American Council for Construction Education; listed in "Men of Achievement in Texas", 1972 edition and Who's Who in America Finance and Industry; former President Houston Chapter AGC; former President Texas State AGC Building Branch; former Chairman Professional Advisory Committee Department of Construction Science at Texas A&M and Chairman of the College of Architecture Development Council; former member Board of Education Spring Branch ISD; and Past National Director of the AGC in Washington, D.C., representing the state of Texas. He was a member of the early group who founded and developed Vail Resort in Colorado. He currently was a member or the World Presidents Organization (WPO), a life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and a charter member of the Sul Ross Masonic Lodge in College Station. In 1998, Mr. Murphree was presented an "Outstanding Alumnus Award" by the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University and had previously been given an award for "Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Construction Education" at A&M, by the Construction Science Department. He also had previously served on eleven commercial bank boards. Pallbearers will be: Raymond Hankamer, Tom Gillis, Gibson Gayle, Jr., Dick Graves, Kenneth Roberts, Tom Amonett, W.R. Parker, Greg Jones, Hal Martin, John Hilton, Tom Gaylord and Bob Hester. Honorary pallbearers are all employees and friends at River Oaks Country Club. Friends are invited to a visitation with the family on Wednesday, June 4th, 2003, from 6 until 8 o'clock in the evening at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 5th, 2003, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay with Dr. James F. Jackson and Rev. John Barksdale officiating. Please send any desired contributions to The Eileen Murphree McMillin Blood Center at The Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin, Houston, Texas 77030.

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Published by Houston Chronicle from Jun. 3 to Jun. 4, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Samuel Murphree

10 Entries

Patty and Bob Cruikshank

June 12, 2003

Dear Joyce, please accept our deepest sympathies for your whole family upon the loss of a truly great man. We had the opportunity to know him for so many years and to see all of his good works. How we remember his wonderful contributions to all of the things he took on. There were so many including the American Heart Association where his help was so important to so many. May he rest in Peace!

Patty and Bob Cruikshank

BABUR OZDEN

June 7, 2003

Dear Dennis,

Please accept and relay my condelences to your family. You will be in my prayers. Your father will always be with you and guide you for the rest of your life.

Your Turkish friend, Babur...

David H. Yawn, M.D.

June 5, 2003

In the course of a man’s life, there are precious few opportunities to make a real difference. Rarer still are those men who take these opportunities and make the world a better place for all of us. Men like this are special and they come along only rarely. Samuel Eugene (Gene) Murphree, Jr., was just this type of man.

In the face of tragedy, he refused to be defeated. When he lost his beautiful, young daughter Eileen to leukemia, he somehow found the courage, the commitment, and the determination to help those who had to walk the same path. His strength was inspirational and his concern genuine.

But, in the end, if we gain strength from his courage, if we gain knowledge from his encouragement, then he will still be with us. We will miss him but we will know his hand continues to guide our efforts. In that, we are truly blessed.

We at the Eileen Murphree McMillin Blood Center are so grateful to Gene, his wife, Joyce, his son Dennis and wife Penny Murphree, and many friends of the Murphree family. Their support of our Blood Center led to the early development of blood stem cell and bone marrow transplantation at The Methodist Hospital along with other advances in Transfusion Medicine.

Sincerely,

Chris M. Leveque, M.D. and David H. Yawn, M.D.

Dr Richard O'Brien

June 4, 2003

I remember Gene as a genuine "man's man" with a great sense of humor. I admired his integrity and honor. Houston has lost a valuable asset in his death.

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