About Linda McCoy-Murray

Although one of the most memorable periods of Linda McCoy-Murray’s life was as the wife of Pulitzer Prize-winning Los Angeles Times sports columnist Jim Murray, she has risen to remarkable heights in her own right as a veteran marketer, promotions specialist, fundraiser, public speaker and presenter.

McCoy-Murray established the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation (JMMF) in 1999 to perpetuate her late husband’s legacy and his love and dedication to his extraordinary career in journalism.  Under Linda’s direction, monies raised through events, grants and other donations, provide journalism scholarships through an annual nationwide essay competition.  Twenty-six (26) journalism schools currently participate. As of 2009, the JMMF has awarded 68 journalism scholarships totaling $357,500.00.

Currently, Murray Scholars represent the following journalism schools: Arizona State University; Ball State University; California State University-Northridge; Indiana University-Bloomington; Loyola University-New Orleans; Northwestern University; Ohio University-Athens; St. Bonaventure University; Syracuse University; UCLA; University of Florida-Gainesville; University of Iowa; University of Kansas; University of Maryland; University of Missouri; University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; University of Montana; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Southern California; Wake Forest University; and Trinity College-Hartford (Jim Murray’s alma mater.)

Together with former ESPN’s UP CLOSE host Roy Firestone and writer-director Richard Clayman, McCoy-Murray is executive producer of “An Evening with Jim Murray: The Wit and Wisdom of the World’s Greatest Sportswriter,“ a one-man stage production on the life of Jim Murray. The play will be made available to journalism schools and drama departments across the country, with a one-day workshop for students, followed by an evening performance for the public.  Free performances will be given at local schools, providing community involvement and an awareness of Jim Murray’s impact on the sporting and literary worlds through his journalistic talent.

McCoy-Murray began her career in Indianapolis as administrative assistant to the president of the Indiana Pacers at the inception of the original American Basketball Association basketball team.  At the same time, she coordinated program advertising for the National Clay Court Tennis Championships held in Indianapolis.

McCoy-Murray’s distinguished career in sales and marketing includes her appointment as wardrobe consultant for LAZARUS, a Federated department store, and later as fashion sales coordinator for JACOBSON’S department store in Indianapolis, Ind.  She is currently President of McCoy-Murray Enterprises, an independent marketing firm handling promotions and fundraising, and is President & Founder of the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation. 

Linda’s book “Quotable Jim Murray” was published in October 2003. She is looking for a publisher for her new book, “Jim Murray: A Tribute to Women in Sports,” a compilation of Jim Murray’s 1961-1998 columns on women athletes.

Among her most treasured awards is being named “Hometown Hero” by the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 6, 2001.  On August 17, 2008, the 10th anniversary of Jim Murray passing, she threw out the first pitch at the Dodgers game at Chevez Revine.

McCoy-Murray is a member of Southern California Broadcasters Association, the Association for Women in Sports Media, and Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles. She has contributed articles to Golf News magazine and the Palisadian Post, writes a “Lines from Linda” column for the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation website, and is publisher of the Murray Scholars Gazette annual publication.

Click here to visit the Jim Murray Foundation website!