Alice
Van Wert Murray
"For many years,
I have known of the good work that Alice has been doing for the
state of Iowa and especially for Iowa women... her warm , humane,
and persistent approach has invariably proved to be most effective."
—W. Robert Parks, 1984
Alice
Van Wert Murray, in addition to being an active farm owner-operator,
has been a "super-volunteer" all of her life. Her primary
concerns have been rural women, safety issues, Iowa State University
(ISU), 4-H, and the Presbyterian Church. Born in 1912, the Minnesota
native graduated from ISU in 1934 and has remained a devoted
and active alumna, recognized many times by the university for
her contributions. Throughout her life, Murray has been concerned
with international understanding and was an eight-time delegate
to the Associated Country Women of the World Conference. Out
of her farming background evolved an interest in safety, and,
as a leading representative of the National Safety Council, she
was an innovator on many safety campaigns, initiating Iowa's
first defensive driver course. Murray has also been an advocate
for women and children on numerous state advisory committees
on day care, education, and environmental health. Currently,
she works at promoting and developing Living History Farms, founded
by her husband William Murray. Murray was inducted into the Iowa
Women's Hall of Fame in 1985.
UPDATE:Murray was nominated for the Helen LaBaron Hilton
Recognition, awarded to an ISU alumnus for outstanding community
leadership as well as leadership in the College of Family and
Consumer Sciences Alumni Association and the University Alumni
Association, 1999; named one of eight Most Outstanding Rural
Women Whose Lives and Contributions Have Bridged Generations,
1998; named one of 150 Iowans Who Made a Difference in 150
Years of Agricultural Progress (1996 book written by Don
Muhm); received the Distinguished and Meritorious Service Award
from the American Farm Bureau, 1992; was elected to the Board
of Governors of Living History Farms, 1992; and received the
Award for Outstanding Contributions while serving on the Board
of Trustees of the Iowa Safety Council, 1987. She serves on the
Stanton Memorial Carillon Foundation Board and various Living
History Farms committees and is a volunteer ambassador for the
College of Family and Consumer Sciences and a volunteer for Green
Hills Retirement Community Care.
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