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Biography
Jim Murry (b. 1935) is a Laurel native who rose from refinery worker to the top union leader in Montana, gaining national prominence in the labor movement. As the AFL-CIO’s Political Director from 1966-68 he helped re-elect Senator Lee Metcalf. He helped elect Governor Forrest Anderson in 1968 after being named Executive Secretary of the Montana State AFL-CIO (Montana’s top union leader). Over the next 23 years he led labor’s successful efforts to elect progressive candidates at all levels in Montana. In 1982, Lee Newspapers named him the second most powerful person in Montana. Upon retiring from the Montana AFL-CIO, he spent 8 years in workforce training with the Steelworkers Union in the Chicago area. Retiring back to Montana, he was named to the Montana Historical Society Board by Governor Brian Schweitzer. In February 2012 he was named Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practices, a position he held until April 2013. Jim & his wife Arlene have 5 children, 7 grandchildren & 4 great-grandchildren.
Publication Date
2015
Recommended Citation
Murry, James W. and Barrett, Evan, "Biography of James W. Murry" (2015). Biographies and Photos of Series Participants. 1.
https://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/crucible_bios/1