Reverend Wright Human Rights Award Recipient, Edward Murray, Jr.

The 28th Annual Reverend James C. Wright Human Rights Award goes to Edward (Ed) L. Murray, Jr., a founding member of 100 Black Men of Madison and a dedicated member of the Dane County branch of the NAACP. This award will be presented to Mr. Murray at the City Common Council meeting on July 15th, 2025, at 6:30 pm.

Known for his humble and selfless character, Ed Murray has dedicated over fifty years to serving those in Madison’s community who were most in need, reflecting Reverend James C. Wright’s character and legacy as a dedicated public servant. Ed is a former resident of Madison and has worked in Madison for most of his career.

As a leader and founding member of 100 Black Men of Madison, Ed led youth and adult-based programs through the organization’s “Mentoring the 100 Way Across a Lifetime” program, serving thousands of youths and adults of all races and genders across the Greater Madison area. This mentoring program provided crucial services, including face-to-face mentoring, online mentor training, a virtual mentee curriculum that includes health and wellness materials, and post-secondary academic scholarships.

As an active member of Dane County’s NAACP, Ed is also steadfast in addressing social and economic injustices faced by Black and brown communities, sometimes being the only person of color in the room. Dedicated to taking action, Ed not only provides tangible solutions to such issues but also carefully instructs others on how to do the same.

“The Ed Murray that I know doesn’t understand how to say ‘no’ to those in need or those who are attempting to help those in need,” according to Frances Huntley-Cooper, former mayor of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, and the first African American female mayor in Wisconsin.

Attributing his motivation for service to God, family, and country, Ed Murray's unwavering dedication, leadership, and impactful contributions to the community make him a deserving candidate for the Reverend James C. Wright Human Rights Award. “Edward Murray is a U.S. Army veteran and retired medical professional whose career reflects a lifetime of service. He served two tours in the Army as a combat medic and later as a Physician Assistant, stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Germany, and other key locations from 1964–1971 and 1976–1979. After his military service, Mr. Murray became a Cardiopulmonary Perfusionist, working with top cardiac surgeons in Milwaukee and Madison. He also served as a Clinical Instructor at UW Hospital and contributed to research on prostate cancer in Black men,” according to the Isthmus Newspaper.

The Reverend James C. Wright Human Rights Award honors the late Reverend James C. Wright, a civil rights pioneer in Madison. During the 1960s, he worked on the adoption of the City of Madison's Equal Opportunities Ordinance and served as Executive Director of the Equal Opportunities Commission from its inception in 1968 until his retirement in 1992. Reverend Wright was born in Camden, South Carolina.

The award is given to an individual who best exemplifies Reverend Wright's dedication and compassion for civil and human rights and who conducts their daily life consistent with these values.

Prior recipients of the award include: Jacqueline Wright, 1996; Dr. Richard H. Harris, 1997; Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson; 1998; Helen Vukelich, 1999; Anthony "Nino" Amato, 2000; John Noreika, Sr., 2001; Dr. John Y. Odom, 2002; Peter Muñoz, 2003; Earnestine Moss, 2004; Jonathan "Jon" Gramling, 2005; Agnes Gutierrez Cammer, 2006; Jeffery Erlanger, 2007; Professor Richard Davis, 2008; Darlene Hancock, 2009; Alfonso Studesville, 2010;  Richard V. Brown, Sr., 2011; Colleen Butler, 2012; Charlestine Daniel, 2013; Dr. Floyd Rose, 2014; Anthony Timmons, 2015; Annette Miller, 2016; Brandi Grayson, 2019; Tamora Fleming, 2020; Carmella Harris, 2021; Wayne Strong, 2022;  Emanuel Scarbrough, 2023 and Reverend Marcus Allen, Sr., 2024.

For more information, see: www.cityofmadison.com/civil-rights/about/awards/reverend-james-c-wright-award