Paul Murrill Obituary

Paul Whitfield Murrill passed away peacefully Monday, April 2, at his home surrounded by his family. Born in St. Louis, MO, July 10, 1934, to Horace and Grace Whitfield Murrill, he grew up in Hinds County, MS, after his family moved there. A lifelong learner, his early education began in a one-room school in Pocahontas, MS, then continued in the public schools of Clinton, MS, from which he graduated in 1952. Receiving a Naval ROTC scholarship, he began his college education at the University of Mississippi, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in chemical engineering in 1956. While at Ole Miss he met his beloved future wife, Nancy Hoover Williams, of Lexington, MS. Upon graduation, he received his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy and spent the next three years as a Naval officer aboard USS Valley Forge. Thus began a life-long love for the Navy and the sea. He was initially Machine Division Officer in charge of Valley Forge's engine rooms, but always in search of a challenge he requested and received permission from the Captain to train for Officer of the Deck – Underway, a position that was conferred upon him in 1958. He was later promoted from Ensign to Lieutenant (junior grade). After discharge from the Navy, he and Nancy were married in May, 1959, and have celebrated 59 years of marriage. Dr. Murrill had a brief career as a chemical engineer at Columbia-Southern (PPG) in Lake Charles, but soon pursued higher education in chemical engineering. Encouraged by a mentor at Ole Miss, he attended Louisiana State University where he completed his Master's degree and then his Ph.D in 1963. He was hired initially by LSU as an interim professor, but his natural leadership ability and intellect led to his being hired for a full-time position as professor in the Chemical Engineering Department. He was named head of that department, then Dean of Academic Affairs, and Provost of the University soon thereafter. In 1974, at only age 39, he was named Chancellor of the Baton Rouge campus and served in that capacity until 1981. During that time, Dr. Murrill was the 21st living American to be named Distinguished Member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and in 1978 Change Magazine named him one of the top 100 educators in the country. Under his leadership, LSU applied for and was granted a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and became the thirteenth university to be named a Sea Grant Institution. Paul oversaw the implementation of Title IX for women's athletics at LSU and during the country's bi-centennial (1976) he launched a special project, "The Native Flora of Louisiana," with botanical artist, Margaret Stones, executing the watercolor drawings. He is a member of 13 honorary and professional societies, including the LSU and Ole Miss Alumni Halls of Fame. He wrote and edited many books, including seminal texts on Process Theory which are still in use today. In 2003, the Instrument Society of America named him one of the 50 most influential people in history in the fields of automation, instrumentation, and control technologies. Dr. Murrill retired from LSU in 1981 and began an accomplished career in the corporate world. As a testament to his abilities, he was asked to and served on the boards of 27 publicly-traded corporations regulated by the SEC. He was chief executive officer of Gulf States Utilities and continued on that board after it was acquired by Entergy Corporation. He served as lead director of the board of Tidewater, Inc., which named an offshore supply ship the Paul W. Murrill in his honor. His corporate career also included serving on the boards of Piccadilly Inc, Foxboro Corporation (MA), Zygo Corporation (CT), and the Baton Rouge Water Company. From 1979 to 1997, he was an advisor to the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Laboratory at Oak Ridge. He served on numerous non-profit boards and foundations, including the Baton Rouge Food Bank and two years as Chairman of the Board of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. He was an ordained deacon at University Baptist Church, which he and Nancy joined in 1960, and over the years he taught various ages in Sunday School. He had many and varying interests: early lighting, fishing, and gardening, to name a few, but none so important to him as his family and his God. Of his many accomplishments, the most important was that he was humble, kind, ever-loving and compassionate. During his later years, he taught a Sunday School class of his peers (some older, some younger), and this was a most meaningful experience for him. For six years, until January of this year, he wrote a newsletter he called "The Peep," which began with his class and expanded to include a wide range of devoted friends in various parts of the country, who he greeted weekly as "my fellow pilgrims." He was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Grace Murrill, and a son Paul Whitfield Murrill, Jr. He is survived by his wife Nancy; son, John (Elizabeth) of Baton Rouge; son, Britt (Kasey) of Baton Rouge, daughter-in-law, Andrea of Baton Rouge, and grandchildren, Parham, Baker, Paul, James Henry, Alexander, Boyd, Anna Grace, Gray, and Mary Elizabeth Murrill, all of Baton Rouge, as well as two step-grandchildren, Ben Shea of Los Angeles, and Ava Vasquez of Baton Rouge. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 6th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Rabenhorst Funeral Home on Government Street in Baton Rouge. There will be additional visitation on Saturday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at University Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, with a memorial service to follow. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Mississippi Industries for the Blind in Jackson, MS, or the charity of your choice.

Published by The Advocate from Apr. 4 to Apr. 7, 2018.
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Memories and Condolences
for Paul Murrill

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Paul was truly one of the finest men I have ever met. He was a humble servant of God who truly cared about others. He will be missed.

Bill Mohl

Friend

April 14, 2018

My sympathy to Dr. Murrill's loved ones. I knew him during the time he served as CEO at GSU. He was an extraordinary man. When he conversed with anyone, he looked into their eyes, and they knew he was listening. A great leader, and human being.

Iris Stanfield

April 9, 2018

TO Paul's Family

I met Paul during my tenure as general counsel at Entergy where Paul served on the Board of Directors for some years. I came to appreciate him immediately for his high intelligence, his rigorous way of approaching problems and thinking them through, his steadfastness and leadership skills, and at the same time his kind and thoughtful manner and above all his fine understated sense of humor. Dear Paul will surely be much missed by his family, by his many close friends in Baton Rouge and across the country and the world, and by those who came to know him professionally and at least to some degree personally. News of Paul's death has been a very sad, deeply felt "event" for me and for my wife, Dauphine, as well. May memory of Paul -- and the example he set for all of us -- live on and on and on . . . . Bob Sloan

Robert Sloan

April 9, 2018

Dr. Murrill was Chancellor when I graduated from LSU and was CEO at GSU when I was there. He and I would share a joke and get a laugh together. Always positive to be with. He was a real inspiration.

Brent Dorsey

April 9, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to the family and may God be with all of you. Our Deepest Sympathy, Jim and Pat Cornelius-Beaumont,Texas

April 8, 2018

Sending my love and prayers to the Murrill family. Dr Murrill was such a special person with so much warmth and kindness. His friendship to my dad meant so very much. He will be greatly missed.

Lydia Haile Follis

April 8, 2018

Thinking of you in your time of loss. Steve and JoAnn

Steven Cornelius

April 8, 2018

Thoughts and prayers to the family of Dr. Paul Murill; what an accomplished life and a life well lived. Mrs. Nancy, Dr. Britt, Kasey, Anna Grace, Gray, Mary Beth my prayers are with you and the whole family, LSU family as well as all his many other endeavors.

Janel Viator

April 7, 2018

Paul will be greatly missed! We were classmates in Clinton High School. All his life he has been a leader and an educator making significant contributions all his life, He will be greatly missed by so many of us.

Joseph Gilmore

April 7, 2018

Dr. Brit Murrill and family, we are so very sorry to hear of your loss. All our sympathy during this difficult time. Our Best, Staff of FKC Bon Carre'

April 6, 2018

Dr. Britt Murrill & family, we are so very sorry to learn of your father's passing; he was an extraordinary man & a true vessel of God. We love you and pray for comfort & strength. 1Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died & rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

Staff of FMC Gonzales

April 6, 2018

Nancy and the Murrill family, we're so very sorry to learn of Paul's passing away. Our prayers are with all of you.

Shirley and Cal Hebert

April 6, 2018

Nancy and family, So sorry to learn of Paul's passing. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Evans Roberts

April 5, 2018

I knew Paul from tai chi class. I didn't know his last name and never suspected that the gentle, smiling man was the former LSU chancellor. I'm glad I had the opportunity to make his acquaintance.

Robert Perlis

April 5, 2018

I will miss Paul's appreciation for others, smiles, hugs, and words of wisdom!

Jan Hondzinski

April 5, 2018

A life devoted to public service is an obedient response to the Divine command to love our neighbor.

I am privileged and proud to have served in such a mission where Paul served so well.

Dudley Fricke

Dudley & Helen Fricke

April 5, 2018

We grew up with Paul. He went to school with us at Clinton and drove our school bus. My brother Joe Rees looked over his farm for many years. We loved his mother and father. The Rees family were very good friends. We are praying for Nancy and family. Ann Rees Ferrell

Ann Ferrell

Classmate

April 5, 2018

Paul Murrill - a friend, motivator, source of inspiration & patient listener! No doubt more lives than anyone will ever know are better because they were touched by this wise man. Blessing on Paul, Nancy & their beloved family.

Bill Hounshell

April 5, 2018

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825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

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