In the early 1960s, Norman Murray was hired by Ray Kroc, founder of the fast-food giant McDonald’s Corp., where he became a rising executive within the ranks of the young Chicago-based company.
Mr. Murray went on to become McDonald’s point man on the East Coast and is considered largely responsible for the company’s successful expansion into several states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
“When Norm started working for him, Mr. Kroc was a struggling businessman, trying to make ends meet and working out of this dinky little office in Chicago,” said his wife of 56 years, Marion. “There were times back in the early days, when he’d have to sell off one of his restaurants, just to be able to pay my husband and others who worked for him.”
Mr. Murray, 76, of Wheaton a retired electrician and former owner of NJ Murray Construction, died of cancer Tuesday.
Born and raised on the city’s South Side, Mr. Murray attended St. Rita High School. He worked part-time in the shoe department at Marshall Field’s on State Street, where he was first introduced to his wife, an employee.
“We met in the candy department, just a couple of young kids who wound up hanging out together,” his wife said. “It was 61 years ago and we’ve been sweet on each other ever since.”
At age 16, Mr. Murray entered the Navy and served in World War II in the Philippines. After his discharge, he returned home and attended Wright Junior College. He married his wife in 1947 and later became an electrician.
While working for McDonald’s during the 1960s, Mr. Murray moved to Wheaton, where he and his wife began raising a family. During those years, he served as the company’s vice president of construction, acting as the general contractor in the building of new franchises on the East Coast.
“Monday through Friday, he’d mostly work out of the East Coast, but he always made it a point to be home for the weekends,” his wife said.
After leaving McDonald’s, Mr. Murray worked for a short time for two other fast-food operations, Franksville and Tastee Freeze. He then founded NJ Murray Construction in Wheaton and built many restaurants.
A resident of Wheaton for 50 years, Mr. Murray was active in the community.
Other survivors include five daughters, Sue Peterson, Ann Harazin, Joan Olufs, Patrice Balocca and Sheila Malone; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday in Williams-Kampp Funeral Home, 430 E. Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday in St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church, 101 West Loop Drive, Wheaton.
