Jon Garth Murray

Jon Garth Murray (November 16, 1954 – September 29, 1995) served as president of American Atheists, a non-governmental organization that lobbied on the separation of church and state. He was the second son of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, an activist who founded American Atheists in 1963 and served as its first president. He was the half-brother of William J. Murray.

Jon Garth Murray
President of American Atheists
In office 1986–1995
Preceded by	Madalyn Murray O'Hair
Succeeded by	Ellen Johnson
Personal details
Born	November 16, 1954 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Died	September 29, 1995 (aged 40) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Cause of death	Murder by David Roland Waters
Relations	William J. Murray (half-brother) Robin Murray O'Hair (niece; deceased)
Parents	Michael Fiorillo Madalyn Murray O'Hair (deceased)
Known for	Son of Madalyn Murray O'Hair American Atheists

Career and activism

From 1986 until his death in 1995, Murray held the de jure office of President of American Atheists. It was a title without power, however, as his mother retained authoritative control behind-the-scenes.[1]

Personal life and death

Jon Garth Murray, called "Garth", was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1954, the son of Madalyn Murray O'Hair and Michael Fiorillo, her boyfriend at the time. It is likely that Garth never met his father. In 1960 his mother filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore public school system, naming his older half-brother William J. Murray as plaintiff. Consolidated with another case, it reached the United States Supreme Court on appeal, which ruled that mandatory public Bible readings in public schools was unconstitutional.

That year his mother founded American Atheists and served for decades as the first president. Murray also worked for the organization as an adult.

He is thought to have had only one, short-lived relationship with a woman. He was a tall, heavyset man and had a speech impairment. He was living with his mother Madalyn in 1995, together with his niece Robin Murray O'Hair in Austin, Texas. (His mother had adopted her granddaughter Robin, making her Garth's adopted sister).[2]

In 1995, Murray, his mother, and his niece Robin were all kidnapped and killed in San Antonio by David Roland Waters, a former employee of American Atheists. Waters committed these crimes in association with two other men.[2]

Remembrance

In 2012, a memorial brick for Murray, his mother Madalyn Murray O'Hair, and his niece Robin was placed at Lou Neff Point in Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.[3]

References

1. Spark, Air (2011-04-06). "The Madalyn Murray O'Hair Murder". Religious Freedom Coalition. Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
2. John MacCormack (10 July 2003). "True Confession". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
3. Atheist, Friendly. "A Memorial Brick for the O'Hairs".

• Appearances on C-SPAN