Remembering 2025’s Losses: Jim Murray

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Yes, I’m late, but you know why. I got the car. I’m showing off the pictures at Chuy’s and ready to give you another person who passed away in 2025. A name you won’t know, but after you read this you’ll be glad you were introduced to him. Jim Murray If you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan you may know his name. Jim Murray was the general manager of the NFL’s team for ten years (1973-1982). No, that’s NOT why he’s on this list. You see, Jim Murray was a good guy. He used his celebrity and his money for a wonderful purpose. In 1974, one of the Eagles players had a daughter battling leukemia. Murray and oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans collaborated on an idea of helping families of children battling critical illnesses by giving them one less thing to worry about: where to stay while the child was being treated. And thus was born the Ronald McDonald House. While the restaurant had nothing to do with the charity initially, the advertising company Murray and Dr. Evans used also had McDonald’s as a client. The association with the mascot of one of the largest fast food chains in the world had definite benefits, including publicity and a terrific source of fundraising. Today, there are over 380 Ronald McDonald Houses in 62 different countries. A sports fan might tell you differently, but for me (and I am a sports fan), Jim Murray’s legacy is not his work with the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s with the founding of the Ronald McDonald Houses. Thank you, Jim. Jim Murray Born James Joseph Murray, June 5, 1938, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died August 25, 2025, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (natural causes) (age 87) HALL OF FAME: Pennsylvania Sports, 1992 Murray talking about the origins of the Ronald McDonald Houses: