Evening star., 1951-11-22
Police Chief Murray
Realizes Ambition
After 21-Year Climb
Continued From First Page J

Continued From First Page.)
door opened unexpectedly and the
new chief walked in.
Hello. dear" he said to his
wife, Lillian.
"Oh, it's wonderful, Bob" she
whispered and kissed him.
The tall, calm, crack detective
looked down at his 12-year- -old
daughter, Rose Marie:
Hello Rose" he said.
That was how he came home
as chief for the first time.
That's typical of former Inspec-
tor Murray. who today assumes
the title of Maj. Murray on order
OF the Commissioners. While he
will not take over officially as
superindent of police until De-
cember l. he now is acting chief,
carrying the titles that go with
the job. Shy and a bit nervous
when faced with large numbers of
people. he has almost nothing to
say that isn't considered before
hand. His personality is kind,
but it's covered by reserve.
Worked Hard FL Years.
Since he began on the force.
he's worked hard. During his
81 years of service, the Dis
trict's new chief has received
14l concentrations. most OF them
for outstanding work on major
criminal cases. He won the Gold
Medal for Valor in 1898.
Lillian Murray, her husbands
greatest fan, teStifieS to MS hard
work. !
why. we've had almost no
social life" she said. And here's
why:
Mai. Murray gets up at 7 am.
at least five days each week and
often six and seven. He eats
breakfast-"anything my wife
puts before me"-and leaves
his home at am. He drives
a 1850 Oldsmobile sedan to-
his Office in the Municipal
Center and arrives at exactly S:27
the time seldom has varied,
because he believes a good ietec-
tive must be exact.
Back After Dinner.
He leaves the Office al 4 pm.
and goes home. The Inspector and
his little family eat dinner (Which
is steak, if he has his way early
SO he can leave home again at
6:15 pm. and be back at head
quarters in time for 7 o'clock roll
call. He's home again about 10
p.m.-that is unless there's a
major case breaking.
Although Mrs. Murray knows
It's been worth it, the life of soli-
tude has been hard on her Last
month she went to Johns Hop
kins for medical checkup.
Il thought I had about every
thing" she commented, bit they
told me it was just nervous ten
sion. +
Il hope we can have a little
more social life now" #
For Mrs. Murray. yesterday was
the longest day of her life. Shef'
sat in the living room all day, I!
refusing to listen to the radio or
turn on the 10-inch television set. !
Each time the phone rang, it
scared me to DEATH" she COM
mented. When finally informed {
of her husbands appointment. over {
the telephone by this reporter, 4
she could only gasp and hardly
believe it. Il
Put in Tense Day. /.
Meantime, the new chief went ,
through tense day He had :
no idea. he admitted, which of the
seven inspectors would get the top
job on the force. He didn't even I
know what was in store for him {
when the Commissioners sum-
moned him to the District Build t
ing shortly before pm. yes IS
terday to inform him of his ap-
pointment. I
And then, when he asked for a @
few minutes to telephone his wife, "
he dialed the number and said Il
only: We'll, honey, I got it." a
Maj. Murray is pleasant fell h
low and soft spoken. But yes a
terday, he said he just couldn't y
smile all day.
Even when they were taking t
pictures Of me with the Com s.
missioners at the District Build b
in,, I couldn't smile" he said. v
II was too tense" a
But he really smiled when he
finally got home and could sit h
down in his favorite chair and put C
his feet up On his favorite stool. f
Time for a Break. t.
His wife and friends think it's :
time Maj. Murray had a break IS
Il can remember only one real G
vacation in recent years" Mrs. S
Murray recalled before her hus-
bdllO lldG Wdo L1IC /
summer before last. when we did S
get away to Atlantic City" Even t
now, the new chief has some 140 /
days of leave coming to him which e
he just hasn't been able to take.
Any one who knows Bob Murray c
knows he's as much of a gentle
man as he is conscientious IN his
work Mrs. Murray says he j.,
takes care of his clothes himself. :
He's invariably dressed neatly in !.
a conservative suit with a con- :
servative tie-and he takes his =
clothes to and from the cleaners, :
himself. ... l.
The entire house is orderly, for
Lillian Murray is as neat house 8
keeper as Bob is a dresser Even ,,
the little, black cocker spaniel, :
Mitzie (Mrs Murray calls him =
THE Beast"), is kept out of the {
living room so long dog hairs
won't be left all over the attractive q
Oriental rug.
When Maj. Murray does have I
La, Iilrolv1 n Ia I