


One Lifetime Leads to Another
Explore Jack Murdock's life and his legacy continuing through the Murdock Trust.

Jack’s Early Years

The Seeds of Tektronix

Tektronix and Beyond

1975-1984

1985-1994

1995-2004

2005-2014

2015-2025

Jack’s Early Years
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Jack Murdock is born in Portland, Oregon
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16-year-old Jack Murdock writes an autobiography for a school assignment, reflecting on his experiences from infancy through high school
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Jack graduates from Franklin High School, where he served as their resident electrician
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Jack opens the Murdock Radio and Appliance Company

The Seeds of Tektronix
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Jack begins working with Howard Vollum at Murdock Radio and Appliance Company
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Jack begins his service in the Coast Guard during World War II

Tektronix and Beyond
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Jack and Howard co-found Tektronix in Beaverton, OR
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Tektronix has 300 employees and sales of $4 million
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Jack learns to fly in Hillsboro, Oregon, igniting what would become both a passion and business
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Tektronix has 3,000 employees and sales of $32 million
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Jack elected Chairman of the Board at Tektronix
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Jack pursues hobbies outside of technology and aviation, including ice skating with friends, and serves as Vice President of the Portland Figure Skating Club
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Jack operates a Piper Aircraft distributorship in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and British Columbia
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Jack and Howard receive awards for their 20th anniversary at Tektronix
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Jack tragically dies in a floatplane accident on the Columbia River at the age of 53
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The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is founded, per Jack’s instructions in his will

1975-1984
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The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust is founded under the leadership of three Trustees (Jim Castles, Paul Boley, and Walter Dyke)
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Dr. Sam Smith becomes the first Trust Executive Director
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The Trust holds its first grants meeting, awarding 14 grants to nonprofits in Oregon and Washington
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The Trust expands its giving to include Montana
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The Trust expands its giving to include Alaska
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The Trust expands its giving to include Idaho

1985-1994
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1,000th grant awarded
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Lyn Swanson joins as Trustee, succeeding Paul Boley
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The Trust moves its offices to Broadway in downtown Vancouver, WA
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Ford Anderson becomes the second Trust Executive Director
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The Trust launches the Murdock College Science Research and Partners in Science programs

1995-2004
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Neal Thorpe and John Castles join as Trustees, succeeding Walter Dyke and Jim Castles, respectively
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Neal Thorpe becomes the third Trust Executive Director
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The Trust launches nonprofit support programs under the name 'Enrichment Programming,' which would go on to include Board Leadership, Essentials of Development, Vision & Call, and more

2005-2014
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Dr. Steve Moore becomes the fourth Trust Executive Director
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Jeff Grubb joins as Trustee, succeeding Neal Thorpe
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5,000th grant awarded

2015-2025
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The Trust celebrates 40 years of partnering with Pacific Northwest nonprofits
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Jeff Pinneo joins as Trustee, succeeding Lyn Swanson
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The Trust moves its offices to the Vancouver Waterfront
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The Trust surpasses $1 billion in lifetime grants
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Romanita Hairston becomes the fifth Trust CEO
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The Trust moves to a sectoral model of grantmaking to strengthen investment in specific areas of focus