E.E. "Manny" Murry

E.E. “Manny” Murry Dies, Construction Leader Locally and Nationally; Sportsman and Philanthropist Emanuel E. “Manny” Murry, 87, lifelong resident of Lancaster, peacefully died at home on Thursday, March 31, 2016. The Early Years Born in Lancaster City on September 5, 1928, the only child of the late William McKinley Murry and Esther Mae (Swinehart) Murry, when he was 6 months of age, the family relocated to Landis Valley and resided there until his early teens in the little brick house now known as the “Grossmutter House” in the Landis Valley Farm Museum. The family then moved several doors to the north on Valley Road. Manny attended Manheim Township Schools through the 12th grade and remained a lifelong resident of the Township. Traveling extensively on 5 continents, he never lived more than 5 miles from his childhood location. It is also the area where he first acquired his lifelong love of hunting. First job – age 10 – picking tomatoes for a farmer at .05 cents a basket – made .50 cents, Dad insisted he give 10% to the Lord. Second job – age 15 – rented a barn in Landis Valley and raised 3,000 broiler chickens while attending school, also washed windows at Stehli Silk Mill during the summer months and hand washed dishes at Mettfett’s Restaurant on Friday and Saturday nights during the winter. Age 16, while tending chickens and attending high school, he also worked the 3-to-11 shift at Armstrong Cork Co. as a laborer during WWII. Was excused from last school period and rode “homemade” motor bike to Armstrong. Upon leaving high school, he joined Father and one helper in dad’s small business of home building. At age 19 secured a construction loan to build a “spec” house for sale on East Roseville Road. Sold when “under roof.” Then secured another loan to build second “spec” house. Lender discovered they could not lend to anyone under 21 years of age and called for payment. Manny got a personal loan from the late Abe Mellinger to cover costs until second house sold. He then joint-ventured with another individual and built 10 semi-detached homes on Atkins & Maple Avenues. At age 21 he entered into a partnership with his father, known as Wm. Murry & Son, and they engaged in building all the custom homes “they could handle” mostly in Grandview Heights and also some “spec” houses in Bloomingdale. The office was located in the Murry residence on Valley Road. In 1955 Wm. Murry & Son Inc. was incorporated and he began to concentrate on the designing and building of large custom homes in the Murry subdivision of Beverly Estates located on 3 farms purchased from the Hess Brothers just to the north of what is now known as the Route 30 Bypass in Manheim Township. Manny was fortunate to acquire the talents of the late William V. Tierney whose design ability and organizational skills laid the foundation for many of the other businesses to follow. Also allowing the business to relocate to 1801 Lititz Pike where offices were shared with Murry-Book Real Estate and they hired the first secretary/bookkeeper. In 1971 after starting many other successful business enterprises including E.E. Murry Construction Co., Beverly Estates, Inc., Murry Development Corporation, Murry Realty, Inc., Suburban Builders Supply, Inc., and Regency V Apartments, and acquiring and profitably operating Overlook Golf Course. Manny developed an office park, Executive Park North, at the corner of Lititz Pike and Roseville Road, and the business relocated to their current address at 1899 Lititz Pike. Philosophy: “My success was due to working 12 hour days, 6 ½ days a week, and the ability to hire great, loyal, hardworking and dedicated employees, but I take credit for hiring them.” Industry Associations: Charter member and first President, Homebuilders Association of Lancaster County, now BIA, 1956; President – PA Builders Association, 1961; PA Builders Association – ‘Builder of the Year” – 1965; Chaired PBA Housing Tours to Italy, Turkey, Greece, Israel, Brazil, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Japan, and Hong Kong; Passed examination and was licensed as a PA Real Estate Broker in June 1959; President – Greater Lancaster Board of Realtors, now LCAR – 1965; President – Keystone Chapter, Associated Builders & Contractors – 1976; Only local businessman to serve as President of all four of these trade associations; Served on the Board of Directors for National Home Builders Association for 14 years and received lifetime member status in 1969; Also served on National Board for Associated Builders & Contractors for many years. Financial Institutions: Served on Board of Directors – Conestoga Savings & Loan Assoc. 1976-1980; Board of Directors – American Bank & Trust, Reading, PA, 1980. Community Associations: Charter member – Lancaster Northeast Rotary Club 1954; Received Rotary Foundation “Paul Harris Fellow” Award in 1985; Past member of Lancaster Jaycees; Former member Board of Directors – Lancaster Chamber of Commerce. Other Affiliations: Member - Grandview United Methodist Church; Former member of Hamilton Club of Lancaster; Former member & fundraising Chairman – Lancaster Co. GOP Association; Lifetime member NRA. Philanthropic Activities: Established the E.E. Murry Family Foundation in 1974. Fields of interest children/youth services, Christian Churches, and agencies such as Water Street Ministries. Many projects were completed for Hillcrest Children’s Home, Hot Springs, AK, including the “Murry” Dining Hall & Full Kitchen, Gym & Pool; and a 27-unit apartment building “E.E. Murry Transitional Housing.” Received the AOG Layman of the Decade Award in 2007. Created the E.E. Family Foundation Scholarship Fund. Funding also has been made available to capital building projects for Water Street Ministries. Funds are regularly contributed to Hospice & Community Care of Lancaster. Companies founded by E.E. Murry: Wm. Murry & Son, Inc. – custom home & light commercial builder; Beverly Estates, Inc. – developer, developed Beverly Estates, owned & operated Overlook Public Golf Course for 26 years; Murry Development Corp. – developed Country Club Estates, Hamilton Park, Mondamin Estates, Eagle Ridge, Crossgates Development, Crossgates Golf Course; Murry Realty, Inc.; Regency V Apartments – built, owns and manages Wyncote Apartments, Glenn Wynn Manor, Chateau d’Eden, Williamson Square, Fremont Court; Suburban Builders Supply, Inc.; Suburban Builders Heating & Air Conditioning; E.E. Murry Construction Co. – general contractor, was recognized by Engineering News Record as one of Top 400 General Contractors in the nation in 1970; Wheatland Arms, Inc. – built, owned, managed Wheatland Arms; Meco Excavating, Inc.; Murry Management Co.; Hunter Drive Associates; Murry & Book Real Estate – original partner; Leola Development Corp. – original partner – Forest Hills Development; Penn National Race Track – original partner – EEMCC built auto track; Woods Edge Builders, Inc. – original partner – business park old Charles Chip location; Salt River Associates – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Manny is survived by his wife, Diane (McClure) Murry; son, William E. Murry and wife, Susan; daughter, Barbara K. Demchyk, and husband, Stephen; stepdaughter, Judy L. Hastings and husband, Bruce; grandchildren: Stephen Demchyk Jr. and wife Nicole; Wesley Murry and wife Anne; Kate Hansen and husband Eric; Douglas Demchyk, Jordan Ryder; McKinley Murry; Blaire Arnold and husband Tim; Price Murry; and great-grandchildren Hannah, Logan, Sophia, Carina, Gavin, Addison, and Benjamin. He was predeceased by grandson Christopher Demchyk. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Remembrance Gathering at the Lancaster Country Club, 1466 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. Private family interment will be held in Conestoga Memorial Park. Kindly omit flowers. Memorials may be made in Manny’s name to Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604, or Water Street Mission, P.O. Box 7267, Lancaster, PA 17604.