W. Jerry Murray named Executive Director
Over 40 years ago, W. Jerry Murray was a young architect, fresh out of Graduate School at the University of Minnesota. As jobs were scarce in the late 70’s, Jerry went into business for himself, supplying part-time drafting to architects in the Minneapolis area. One of those early customers was a Danish architect named Poul Bertelsen, who had just started a non-profit architectural practice serving projects in the Developing World. The ministry was called Msaada (which means assistance in Kiswahili) and Jerry became the first employee.
As the work in East Africa grew, Jerry was asked to go and start offices for Msaada in Tanzania and then Kenya. From those bases, Jerry completed works for missionary organizations in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Madagascar and India. It was a rich life that forever shaped Jerry. It also introduced him to his future wife - Findlay, Ohio native Sue Pruitt who was serving as a volunteer missionary in Kenya.
After 8 years of missionary service, Jerry and Sue returned to the States. First to Goshen, Indiana and eventually to Findlay, Ohio, where Jerry became partners with Jim Rooney and Dan Clinger forming the firm Rooney, Clinger, Murray Architects. The firm continued to grow into RCM Architects where Jerry was ultimately named President.
Jerry’s career as an architect has been a blessing both to he and his family, and to the many clients he has served. Many notable works of architecture in Findlay were completed under Jerry’s leadership. Today, RCM Architects has grown into a diverse and creative team of professionals whose one objective has been to build a better community.
Now, at an age when most of his colleagues are retiring, Jerry is being called again. Called to return to service as an architect in the Developing World; called to build a better “world” community; called to be Executive Director of Msaada Architects.
The Board of Directors of Msaada Architects welcomes W. Jerry Murray as the successor to Founder and former Executive Director Poul Bertelsen. Under Jerry’s leadership, Msaada Architects look forward to continued service with our ministry partners around the world.