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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 22
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
A RESOLUTION
To express the condolences of the House of Representatives upon the death of Daniel
Thomas "Tom" Murchison of Natchitoches.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
House of Representatives of the Legislature of Louisiana learned of the death of Daniel
Thomas "Tom" Murchison of Natchitoches on Saturday, January 7, 2012, at the age of
seventy-five; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison was born on October 26, 1936, in Memphis, Tennessee,
the first child of Dan and Margaret Murchison; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison spent his childhood in Sikeston, Missouri, and graduated
from Sikeston High School in 1955 before moving to Jackson, Tennessee, and receiving his
bachelor of arts degree from Union University in 1959; and
WHEREAS, while studying at Union University, Mr. Murchison met the love of his
life, Vicki Jean Dillow, who he married on September 10, 1960, and with whom he shared
the rest of his life; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison served his country with six months of active service in
the United Stated Army and six years in the Army Reserve, obtaining the rank of Captain
in the Judge Advocate General Corps; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison graduated from Tulane University School of Law in
1962, where he distinguished himself and earned many accolades, including graduating first
in class in the common law curriculum, being inducted into the Order of the Coif, serving
as managing editor of and authoring an article in the Tulane Law Review, and winning the
Edwin Mahoney Award for Excellence in Criminal Law; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison had a long and productive career as an attorney,
beginning with his work at Watson, Williams and Brittain in Natchitoches, which later ENROLLEDHR NO. 22
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changed its name to Watson, Murchison, Crews, Arthur and Corkern, and ending at
Murchison and Murchison, LLC, which he established with his son, Tommy, and Robert
Owsley; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison served the people of Natchitoches effectively as
assistant city attorney from 1966 until 1973, and then city attorney from 1973 until 2004, in
addition to serving the people of Louisiana as a voting member of the Louisiana State Law
Institute for many years; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison found an outlet to share his wisdom and expertise in
teaching real estate, business law, and successions and trusts at Northwestern State
University; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison's talent and dedication led the Young Lawyer Division
of the Louisiana State Bar Association to name him the "Outstanding Young Lawyer of
Louisiana" in 1973, while his giving spirit, which he channeled to the people of Louisiana
through pro bono services, merited his recognition by both Kisatchie Legal Services and the
Louisiana State Bar Association; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison was a member of many legal societies, including the
Louisiana State Bar Association, where he served on the Law Reform Committee,
Natchitoches Parish Bar Association, American Judicature Society, American College of
Probate Counsel, and Kisatchie Legal Services, where he served on the board of directors;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison was a member of and officer for many civic
organizations, including the Natchitoches Parish Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Jaycees,
the Lions Club, and the Northwestern State University Booster Club; he was named Man of
the Year in 1985 by the Natchitoches Parish Chamber of Commerce; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being an accomplished lawyer and public servant, Mr.
Tom Murchison was a man of faith; he was ordained a deacon in 1985; and
WHEREAS, in 1963, Mr. Murchison and his wife, Vicki, became members of First
Baptist Church, where he served many years as a youth Sunday School teacher, cofounded
the Couples Too class, and was involved in Youth Ministries, coaching basketball and track,
and assisting with the Royal Ambassador program; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 22
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WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison was a baseball enthusiast whose love of and self-
identification with the St. Louis Cardinals, who won thirteen pennants and eight World
Series during his lifetime, was so strong that he often found himself in fights with the team's
manager and considered members of the team to be his friends; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison's love of baseball and his sons led him to be a fixture
of local youth baseball and to cofound Natchitoches Area Dixie Youth, Inc., through which
he coached many teams and established a legacy as a statistician; and
WHEREAS, throughout his illustrious life, Mr. Murchison developed and maintained
many friendships with people he met during childhood, college, law school, and while
practicing law, attending church, and sporting events; his amiable personality allowed him
to make friends with almost anyone, especially those who would listen to his stories; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison was as well known for speaking at length about his
children and grandchildren, the Civil War, the Bible, and baseball as he was known for his
bow tie and ever-present cigar; and
WHEREAS, in addition to being a patriot, lawyer, teacher, coach, deacon, and dear
friend of many, Mr. Murchison was a family man who prioritized his wife and children
above all else; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison is survived by his wife, Vicki, three sons, Daniel T.
"Tommy" Murchison, Jr., and his wife Gretchen, Timothy Glenn "Tim" Murchison and
William Tyler Murchison and his wife Sally; grandchildren, Garrett Wayne Murchison,
Daniel Jacob Murchison, Katherine Victoria Murchison, Anna Grace Murchison, Ava
Margaret Murchison, Henry Ian Murchison, and Farrah Elizabeth Murchison; sisters, Dr.
Lynne Murchison and Judy Kirby and her husband James; brother-in-law, Kip Dillow and
his wife Linda; nieces, Amie Ramsey, Chandra Dillow, and Summer Bacon; nephews,
Matthew Kirby, Andrew Kirby, and Kipper Dillow; and his dear friend, whom he considered
family, Patricia Payne; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Murchison is also survived and will be missed by his beloved work
family at Murchison & Murchison, LLC, especially the women of the firm, Jenny Settle,
Lynn Pierson, Sarah O’Bannon, Rachel Blanchard, and Hilary Goff; and
WHEREAS, faith, family, and friends were the most important things in Mr.
Murchison's life, and he never lost any of them; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 22
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WHEREAS, with the death of Mr. Murchison, Louisiana has lost one of her finest
citizens, a gentleman of many gifts and talents, who has left an indelible mark on the lives
of those he touched; and
WHEREAS, although the death of Tom Murchison has left a tremendous void in his
community, his memory shall live forever in the minds and hearts of all who loved him and
all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
death of Daniel Thomas "Tom" Murchison of Natchitoches, does hereby record for posterity
his outstanding accomplishments and singular contributions, and does hereby extend
enduring appreciation for the tremendous pride and honor that this wonderful man will
forever bring to his family, friends, community, state, and nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Daniel Thomas "Tom" Murchison.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES