Fishing legend Ray Murski dies after auto wreck
Ray Murski, a legend in Texas fishing, died Dec. 19 after sustaining injuries in a two-vehicle wreck in Burnet.
Murski, 72, was a conservationist and successful businessman.
He was also among the first competitors on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail after it was founded in the late 1960s.
Murski owned Murski-Breeding Sales, Co. Inc. of Dallas, which represents numerous accounts in the fishing and hunting industry.
He owned Strike King Lure Company.
In 1971, Sam Walton invited Murski to be among the first purchasers of stock in his expanding business, Walmart.
His Flint Creek Ranch in Bosque County is where he hosted thousands of youngsters for hunting, fishing and camping.
Murski was a past Texas Wildlife Association director and a member of the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. He also was a life sponsor member of the Dallas Safari Club.
"Ray was a worldwide hunter, a tireless supporter of the hunting and fishing industries and an avid quail hunter," said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. "He will be missed."
In March, he was awarded the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award at the 2011 Park Cities Quail annual dinner and auction in Dallas.
Murski died at an Austin-area hospital after being transported following the crash. Details about the wreck were not immediately available.
According to John Barnes, president of Strike King, Murski spent his last days hunting at his South Texas deer lease with his son, Mike, and his three grandsons. The hunting was not so good because the lease had a lot of rain recently. Everyone on the lease had gotten their trucks stuck in the mud, including Murski, Barnes said.
Murski was returning to his Flint Creek Ranch when the accident happened, Barnes said.
