Friends, colleagues remember former Michigan football player Vada Murray for quiet courage
Vada Murray, left, celebrates a touchdown during the second annual Michigan Alumni Flag Football Game last April at Michigan Stadium.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
Football fans will remember Vada Murray for mental toughness and courage on the field during his playing days at the University of Michigan.
Those close to him say he also was a great cop, a family man and a loyal friend who lived life well in the face of a devastating, unexpected and incurable cancer diagnosis.
Murray, 43, who enjoyed a 20-year career as an Ann Arbor policeman after playing as a free safety for the Wolverines, died Wednesday in Ann Arbor following a fight with lung cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Sarah Murray, and three children.
Murray’s diagnosis in the fall of 2008 shocked everyone, Sarah Murray said. He never smoked. His parents never smoked. Following his athletic career at the University of Michigan, he ran eight to 10 miles per week and lifted weights up to three times a week.
Murray and his wife didn’t waste time asking “Why,” the couple told The Ann Arbor News in 2008.
Vada Murray with his wife, Sarah, in 2008.
Ann Arbor News file photo
Instead, he asked, "What do I have to do? What sacrifices do I have to make to beat this?" he told a reporter at that time.
Sarah Murray said Thursday his children meant everything to her husband.
“A huge part of his motivation for living was to be here to see them grow, and to see them laugh, to chase the boogie man away out of the bedrooms at night,” Sarah Murray said of their children Deric, 12, Kendall, 8 and Harper, 6.
"He just wanted to raise his kids and do his job," she said. "He was really a simple guy living the life that he loved."
Cancer may have claimed him, but it never defeated his will, said Ann Arbor Police Chief Barnett Jones.
In between cancer treatments, he kept up the healthy routine of an athlete, said Ann Arbor Police Lt. Angella Abrams, who attended the police academy and joined the force at the same time as Murray.
Murray and Abrams maintained a close bond over two decades working at the Ann Arbor Police Department together; Murray often took Abrams’ son, his godson, to University of Michigan football games.
“He is hands down one of the most decent and loyal friends I will ever have,” she said.
Until about six weeks ago, Murray continued to work every single day his treatment schedule allowed, Abrams said. The Ann Arbor resident worked for 17 years as a patrolman, but switched to detective work after his cancer diagnosis.
“He’s one of the best cops I know,” Abrams said. “He loved his job. It was natural for him.”
Athletic ability also came naturally to the 6-foot-4-inch Murray, recalled Jerry Hanlon, the former U-M assistant football coach under Bo Schembechler who recruited Murray in the late 1980s from Arch Bishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati.
Hanlon followed the athlete’s high school career closely.
“He was a tall lanky kid, but he would hit ya, he would come up and lay a lick on you,” Hanlon said.
Murray lived up to his coaches’ expectations on and off the field.
Gary Moeller, the former head U-M football coach and an assistant coach under Schembechler, recalled that Murray’s coaches trusted him to make defensive calls on the field.
“He was a very responsible person,” he said. “He could be put in a leadership role, and people respected him.”
In a February blog post paying tribute to Murray’s courage in his fight with cancer, U-M Athletic Director David Brandon recalled the hush that fell over Michigan Stadium during the 1989 Ohio State game when Murray collided with another Wolverine defender and was knocked unconscious.
He bounced back to play in the 1990 Rose Bowl, Brandon wrote.
Brandon also recalled Murray's performance against UCLA in 1989. Murray made a key play that led the Wolverines to victory.
“He blocked an extra point on the Bruins' last TD, recovered the onside kick that led to the winning field goal, and intercepted a pass on the final play of the game as U-M won the game on hot September day in Pasadena,” Brandon wrote.
Shining moments on the football field in a No. 27 jersey may have faded into the past, but Murray has since made his mark around Ann Arbor, helping people every day while pursuing a job he loved.
“He came through the doors a star football player and showed everybody he was a star cop,” Jones said.
Watch a video tribute to Vada Murray below:
Comments
Brian
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 3:28 a.m.
How many more of the men and women that protect our community have to give their lives before the city admits to and eliminates the poisons from the work environment??
Dusty
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 2:39 a.m.
Vada looks like Lawrence Fishburne as Morpheus in the photo up there.
Christopher Potter
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 4:21 a.m.
P.S: I'll also remember Vida leaping sky-high, defying gravity to block an extra point for a field-goal try. He was poetry in motion. R.I.P.
Christopher Potter
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 4:18 a.m.
I will never forget that heart-clutching moment referred to by AD David Brandon, when Vida Murray and Michigan's Todd Plate collided in midair an instant after Plate's game-saving interception in the '89 OSU game. It was Bo's final home game at Michigan, and I believe it was the only game in which he actually ran onto the field to check an injured player. Bo's philosophy was injuries are part of the game and you simply go on with the men who are still healthy. But on this occasion the impact of the collision and the sight of Murray lying motionless and possibly lifeless near midfield clearly traumatized Schembechler as deeply as it did the rest of the 106,000 onlookers. I've never heard a Michigan Stadium crowd shift gears so swiftly from roaring celebration to pin-drop silence as coaches, trainers, medics and players -- Bo in the middle -- crowded around Murray's inert form. And I still recall sighing in deep relief a half-dozen long minutes later, when a now-conscious Vida was helped to his feet after suffering no more than a concussion. And I'm so glad he was given 22 more years to do good things for himself, for his family, and for the City of Ann Arbor. He won't be forgotten.
riverraisin
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 2:42 a.m.
It's a somber day in Wolverine Nation. What can I say about this man that hasn't already been said. RIP Vada.
buckster
Sat, Apr 9, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
I grew up with Vada and played little league ball and was also a captain at Cincinnati Moeller High when Vada played. As much of an awesome athelete he was, he was a great person and came from a great family. The whole Cincinnati Moeller community will miss him dearly. Rest In Peace Vada!
LarryJ
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
About a decade ago, I had to be somewhere during the first half of a UM NCAA tournament B-ball game. On my way home, I was at a red light around Ann and Fifth. Very eager to get home and watch the game, I snuck thru the red light, then got pulled over and given a ticket. I told the cop the truth but got a ticket. Imagine my surprise when I got home and saw that the cop who didn't accept my excuse--that I was eager to watch UM play for a championship-- was Vada Murray! I held no hard feelings--I was in the wrong, and he was doing his job. A good guy. My best to his family.
Kubrick66
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 8:19 p.m.
Wolverines never die.
Trouble
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.
" Those who stay will be Champions". Those who have left are Champions!
azwolverine
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 3:38 a.m.
A great Michigan Man and, even more importantly, a great man. I actually got pulled over by Vada Murray (yes, I was speeding), and was shocked to see that he was the officer that pulled me over. I had no idea until that moment that he was a policeman, but he treated me very graciously and respectfully and even said "Go Blue" to end our interaction. I've told that story to friends for years. RIP Vada...you will be missed.
Matt Cooper
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 2:02 a.m.
Vada will always be one of my favorite Wolverines! I used to love watching him and Tripp Welborne play. I also knew a few of Vada's former teammates, and from everything I've heard about him and his character, I wish I could have had the priveledge of meeting him. My thoughts and most heartfelt prayers will be with Sarah and Vada's kids and their whole family. Thanks for the memories, Vada. You were the best of us.
Ralph Galvin
Fri, Apr 8, 2011 : 12:44 a.m.
I had the privilege of watching Vada Murray as an athlete from U.of M. and a police recruit at the Washtenaw Community College Police Academy.Many times during my tenure at W.C.C. ,U.of M. athletes went through our police academy. All of these young men and women manifested all the great hallmarks of U.of M. student-athletes: hard-working,ethical,intelligent people! Vada was,in my opinion,the most gifted athletically,but he work the hardest of all even though his athletic abilities could have allowed him to coast effortlessly through all the physical skill areas of the police academy. A number of year later Vada stopped by my office and wanted to become a Physical Skills Test Proctor for incoming recruit applicants. I gladly welcomed his assistance,but I told him we only tested on Sundays. Vada said "I'm sorry but I can't give up what few weekends I have off with my family". I thanked him for his offer.and was happy knowing that this young man had the right priorities in his life. Every so often Vada would stop by my office and visit when the Ann Arbor Police Dept. was training at the police academy facilities. I would ask Vada the age old police officer-to-officer question, "Vada,how's it going on the street?" Vada said"Ralph,the bad guys don't like my pro-active police style". I said "Wonderful ,that means you are doing a great job!" Those of you who did not have the pleasure of meeting Vada,and the one thing that stays with me about him, is that his smile could illuminate U.of M. stadium at midnight! You could not possibly feel bad after Vada smiled at you! I beleive that Vada is now with "BO" talking about their last Ohio State game together. Vada came to us as a boy from Ohio,but as "BO always said"he left a Michigan Man" I will miss you Vada,I was blessed to have known you. RHG
Brian Kuehn
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
Vada gave my wife a ticket a number of years ago. She still thought he was a total gentleman despite the way they met. Clearly we have lost a good man.
cmilli
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
I still remember routing for Vada during the Michigan games, he brought so much energy to the defense. What i remember most was working at a local auto dealership and he would bring his truck in he was such a nice person no matter what the situation. Nobody likes taking their car to the dealership when things break and he was by FAR the most polite customer i had ever worked with. Thank you to Vada for serving the A2 community for so long and my thoughts go out to Vada's family.
Ss
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
Vada was a hero of my childhood and set a great example. I still have the wristbands he gave me after a spring game - a fact I reminded him of later in life when I unexpectedly encountered him in his role as a police officer. He gave a humble smile as it was a funny situation and a story I will always remember. Thank you for all of the memories, both on and off the field.
leaguebus
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 9:16 p.m.
Very nice video tribute, Mr Murray will be missed.
Brian Nylaan
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 9:12 p.m.
In his memory, a Radon Awareness program should be initiated as it is the second leading cause of lung cancer, especially among those who didn't smoke. Natural radiation permeating your own house can kill you just as easily as a nuclear plant accident so get a testing kit and check!
81wolverine
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
Vada was one of the greatest kick blockers Michigan has ever had. He was incredible. Great jumping ability, speed, and timing. He was one of the tallest safeties Michigan has had also. I loved watching him play. And then he has given tremendously to this community for the last 20 years. A life well lived! I wish him eternal peace and send his family my deepest condolences.
DFSmith
Thu, Apr 7, 2011 : 7:57 p.m.
RIP, Vada Murray.