Teachers Honour Former Colleague

Submitted by John MacMullen

Said Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: “When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men.” And surely in our hearts.

This week, the community of the Wetaskiwin Composite High School joins in honoring the life of former teaching colleague and coach Mr. Blair Murray by attending the first annual “ Friends of Blair Murray Foundation” fund raising event to be held in Red Deer on Saturday September 29th.   Mr. Murray, who taught in Wetaskiwin during the 2008-2009 school year, passed away suddenly on September 26th, 2011.  Though his teaching time in our community was brief, Murray’s ready smile and gentle disposition sowed comfort and encouragement at every turn to his students and people around him. Even though he went on to teach in Red Deer the light of his remarkable connectedness lingers on in the many hearts of individuals and friends he made while teaching and living in Wetaskiwin.

As colleague and friend, John McMullen states, “Blair was a man of high integrity and great character who earned our respect by the outstanding commitment and service he made to the people and organizations around him and the way in which he so generously set time aside to make people in his life feel special.  His generous spirit and warm heart were just some of the many gifts he extended to all individuals both young and old, in circles across our country, but no one will deny the powerful way in which his warm and generous personality and endless encouragement touched the hearts of students he taught or individuals he coached.  He aspired to create champions not only on the field but also in life. This is just part of the legacy he leaves behind.”

The “Friends of Blair Murray Foundation” has been established to honor and continue the outstanding work Blair extended  to young people throughout his life.  All individuals who knew him are invited to attend or find out more information about this worthy cause or how they might contribute on the Blair Murray Foundation Website.