RIP ==> Prof Tom Murray from Virginia Tech 3

[Ingenuity]

Prof Thomas Murray passed last week at age 84.

I attended several of his AISC "virtual" seminars. Always a very professional researcher and presenter.

I am guessing several "Hokies" enjoyed his engineering classes and lectures.

A memorial is here: Modern Steel Link

 

[hokie66]

I never met Tom Murray, as he came to Virginia Tech many years after I left. But his contributions to the profession are many, and he is a legend in Blacksburg.

 

[DaveAtkins]

Was he the vibration expert?

DaveAtkins

 

[Ingenuity]

For steel-framed buildings, yes.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Vibrations was certainly his most enduring achievement. He really advanced the industry with his publications in that field. He also was responsible for software on this subject (Floor Vibe?) that is still used.

That being said, he was also one of the author's of the AISC design guides on End Plate Moment connections. And, almost all of the research that I've read on this subject was done by his PhD students.

I imagine that he had other contributions for the Metal Building Manufactures Association over the years, but that's my field.

I feel privileged to have met him and interacted with him on the few occasions where our paths crossed. We've lost a giant in our field.

 

[KevinChez]

I was in Dr Murray's LRFD Steel Design class at Virginia Tech in 1998. One class he passed around an iron worker's wrench to let us feel what it's like to actually put the steel together. I still have the notes from that class.

 

[271828]

I had a couple of his steel classes also. His teaching style was 99th percentile. Old school writing on the chalk board before all of the modern bullcrap teaching methods came about.

He built big labs at Oklahoma and at VT. The one at VT is awesome and it is named after him now.

https://www.mullinsfuneralhome.com/obituary/thomas-murray