Harold McMurtry remembered for dedication to work, community, God
By Mindy Tate, Williamson Herald editor
mtate@williamsonherald.com
A man of humble beginnings, Harold McMurtry never missed an opportunity to put himself to work, whether to provide for his family, make his community a better place or to spread the Gospel of Christ to others.
McMurtry, 80, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2009. He served as a city commissioner for Brentwood from 1979-83 and from 1985-89, according to city records. He was chosen as mayor by his fellow commissioners in 1987 and served a two-year term. During his tenure as mayor, the city completed its new library and city hall on Maryland Way and the city's police department received national accreditation.
Seventh District U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn recalled McMurtry as a man of service.
“Harold McMurtry loved freedom and felt duty bound to do his part to preserve it. He embraced opportunity for all and felt it was his responsibility to help open doors of opportunity for others,” Blackburn said. “He was a treasured mentor who taught me about true public service by the manner in which he lived his life.”
Former Brentwood City Manager Frank Clifton remembers McMurtry’s dedication and intensity.
“Harold was dedicated to the city, its citizens and to seeing the city become a better place,” Clifton said. “He was a very intense person; strong in his beliefs and a personable individual.
“He served at a time when the city was dealing with a variety of growth related issues. He was instrumental in many of the earlier decisions that make Brentwood what it is today. He was a very cost conscious member of the City Commission. He made sure every budget was thoroughly reviewed. Harold also had a great sense of humor and could laugh at himself when the situation called for it.”
Clifton recalls when the staff and commission members went on a budget retreat and McMurtry was applying his scrutiny of costs to every line item, including one which brought some laughs.
“When we discussed one line item, (janitorial supplies, etc.) he questioned the total for the year,” Clifton recalled. “Our explanation talked about the various items including toilet paper. Harold questioned, ‘Well, how much toilet paper does the city buy?’ My response, probably not as serious as it should have been was, ‘As much as we need, we do not want to run out.’
“Everyone else thought it funny. After a few seconds, Harold started laughing as well and commented, ‘That looks like an area that we can not afford to cut back,’ Clifton said.
Longtime Brentwood City Commission and former Mayor Joe Sweeney served alongside McMurtry and spoke of him Monday.
“It was a genuine pleasure to serve with him. He was a decent man, a thoroughly Christian man,” Sweeney said. “He and a group of associates smuggled Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. He loved Brentwood and was totally dedicated to Brentwood. Our prayers are for Harold and his family.”
McMurtry was founder and owner of Volunteer Welding Supply in Nashville and served as chairman of the Williamson County Republican Party. He supported Lipscomb University as a member of its Business Advisory Board and was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Save the Franklin Battlefield society.
He and his wife of 59 years, Evelyn, had four children, Jack, David and wife Rachelle, Suzanne McMurtry Baird and husband Mark, and John Mark McMurtry and his wife Shani. As well as his wife and children, McMurtry is survived by five grandchildren; two great grandchildren and three siblings.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. at Concord Road Church of Christ, where McMurtry was a member. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Lipscomb University Athletic Department.
Posted on: 11/12/2009
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