Estate gift from Detroit-area businessman benefits multiple WMU units

Contact: Cheryl Roland

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Six Western Michigan University academic colleges and departments have a special reason to be grateful during this season of giving, thanks to a $2.5 million bequest from a prominent southeast Michigan alumnus and business leader who died just over a year ago.

The gift is from the estate of Mark A. Murvay of Lake Angelus, chair of the Huron Valley State Bank Board of Directors and a longtime industrial supply executive. He died Nov. 13, 2015.

A 1961 WMU alumnus, Murvay was active for many years with the University's Alumni Association and the WMU Foundation, serving on the boards of both organizations. He also was a member of the advisory board for the School of Communication, which is one of the campus units that is benefiting from his estate gift. Other areas designated to receive part of the bequest were the President's Unrestricted Fund, College of Arts and Sciences, Haworth College of Business, College of Health and Human Services and the departments of Chemistry and Psychology.

"Mark Murvay was a proud and loyal Bronco," says WMU President John M. Dunn. "His passion for WMU was clear to anyone who met him, and through his service on various boards, the University was the beneficiary of his keen insights and wise counsel. Now, his legacy will live on through the lives of students and faculty who will benefit from the generous gift he so carefully and thoughtfully designated to the parts of WMU that meant so much to him."

Mark A. Murvay

Early in his career, Murvay held management positions with two brokerage firms. Later, he was president and owner, from 1979 to 2007, of M.A. Murvay Inc., a Warren-based industrial supply firm. He also served on the boards of St. Clair Shores Bank, Security Bank St. Clair Shores and Clarkston State Bank. Murvay joined the Huron Valley State Bank Board of Directors in 2006 and became its chairman in 2008, a position he held until his death. He served as the 69th district director for the Republican Party and also as a member of the Oakland County Executive Committee.

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