OVERCOMING THE ODDS
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The author relaxing on his front porch after receiving the degree of doctor of education from Fordham University. |
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Two Inspiring Books About Success Against Great Odds
Dr. Murray on a book signing tour
in his home state of South Carolina. |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author started kindergarten at nine years old and walked to school barefoot during the next three years. He could not afford the required dollar deposit on schoolbooks; consequently, he had no books to study or to do his homework from for three years. After completing the fifth grade, he walked five miles to another village each day to attend the sixth-grade class.
A few months before he became an orphan, the author dropped out of the sixth grade and went to work full time. He arrived in the city of New York at age sixteen with a fifth grade education. Because of his age and circumstances, he had given up on formal education, but he held fast to his dream of finding a good job and a decent place in which to live. He also held fast to his dream of marrying a pretty girl and raising a nice family. During his early years in the city of New York, the author lived with his uncle, the Reverend Daniel B. Murray, and his family in Manhattan. Reverend Richard Johnson was Reverend Murray’s friend and a college graduate from Charleston, South Carolina. He took an interest in the author and volunteered to tutor him in preparation for High School. The author didn’t think it was possible to ever get into a high school because of his educational background, but Reverend Johnson said that he recognized something special about the young man and wanted to help him as much as he could. Reverend Johnson tutored the young man for five months and didn’t charge him for his service or the materials he used for the tutorial sessions. The author studied hard and absorbed information like a sponge absorbing water. He was truly motivated and excited about the possibility about attending high school. After five months of intensive tutoring, Reverend Johnson was satisfied that he had achieved his goal. He then contacted the board of education and explained what he had done to prepare the young man for high school. The board of education responded by testing the prospective student and placing him in the ninth grade. That was one of many miracles that occurred in the life of this author. He found it hard to believe the progress he had made and the opportunities he saw before him in only a few months after arriving in the city of New York. He worked part time jobs for about two years, then he took on a full-time job after school. |
Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Moses Murray enjoying a happy moment at home
The author was in New York approximately three years when he met a beautiful young lady named Eugenie Hilda Lewis. They dated for approximately two years before they were married on December 19, 1948, one month before the author graduated from high school at the age of twenty. After high school, Samuel Moses Murray, the author, earned the following degrees: a bachelor of arts at Queens College (in two years), a master of science, a degree of professional diploma, and the degree of doctor of education at Fordham University.
The author became a member of Kappa Delta Pi (an honor society in education) in 1975 and was accepted as a member of Phi Delta Kappa (a professional fraternity in education in 1976. The author had a successful career with the New York City Fire Department from 1958 to 1990. After retiring from the New York City Fire Department, Dr. Murray was hired as the principal of Saint Peter Claver School in the Borough of Queens. Before he became an author and publisher, he taught at William Paterson College in New Jersey and at Nyack College in New York. Dr. Murray and his wife raised three wonderful sons named, Hwesu Samuel Murray, Esq., Mr. Glenn David Murray (deceased) and Dr. Vernon Quinton Murray. Their grandson is Kolongy Murray. Their granddaughters are Johari Imani Murray Barrientos, Niambi Ayanna Murray, and Lydia Leona Murray. Great grandson is Ajani Samuel Barrientos, and great granddaughter is Johari Ashar Barrientos. Dr. Murray was born and raised in abject poverty. He lost five years of education before moving to New York. When he was asked how he managed to survive and accomplish so much in spite of his difficult background, he referred to the following formula: GOD’S WILL + 110 percent of my efforts + a miracle = my achievements. |