Melvin "Jack" Murdock was born in Portland on August 15, 1917. Jack, who went by his middle name, graduated from Franklin High School in 1935. Here is is photo from his high school yearbook.
His father offered Jack the choice of going to college or money to start a business. Without hesitation Jack took the money and opened M. J. Murdock Company, known as Murdock Radio and Appliance Company, on 67th and Foster Road. His friendly personality and honest business policies made the M. J. Murdock Co. a success from the start.. This type 35 receiving tube, first introduced in 1931, has a label from the M. J. Murdock Company.
Jack needed someone to take care of the radio service department so that he could put full effort on sales. A mutual friend recommended Howard Vollum for the job, starting a friendship and business association. Howard had taken a number of radio repair jobs after graduation from Reed College before he worked for Jack.
In 1939 the 67th Avenue location became too small for Jack's operation. As a result he bought a building at 59th and Foster. After remodeling and painting, this became one of the most complete and attractive appliance stores in the city.
This ad is from the November 3, 1940 Sunday Oregonian.
This business listing is from the 1941 Portland City Directory.
Just as things got going in good style World War II broke out. Appliance manufacture stopped and Jack closed up the appliance business to join the Coast Guard. His knowledge of radio was immediately put to use.
His first assignment was at the Seattle maintenance base. After a year of this duty, Jack came back to Portland, in charge of a group of radio technicians. His last assignment was as radar and racon (radar beacon identified and located by its response to a radar signal) installation man, operating out of Seattle. This Coast Guard service also proved to be important to the formation of Tektronix. It was there Jack met and became friends with Miles Tippery, Milt Bave, Bob Davis, Ken Walling, Howard Gault, Paul Belles, Sandy Sanford, and Chuck Gasser.
After the war Jack Murdock and Howard Vollum, along with Miles Tippery and Glenn McDowell, formed Tekrad in 1946 and soon changed the name to Tektronix. This photo shows Jack with the first Tektronix product, the Type 101 Video Generator.
This April 1952 TekTalk provides some insight into his background and personal interests. Click on the image to view the PDF.
This biography of Jack is an extract from the "History and Environment Of Tektronix" document, a 249 page document published in October of 1978 and was edited by Robert Bosler.
Melvin Jack Murdock
Jack Murdock was born in 1917 in Portland, Oregon. While attending Franklin High School he wrote in an autobiography the following: "After leaving high school and establishing a business of my own, I intend to go further into the study of radio phenomena. I would like to learn all there is to know about radio, if it is possible. I shall probably carry on many experiments in this field, and also, possibly some other branches of science. If I do all that I hope to do, I shall probably make some inventions. I have at present several ideas for inventions, which if put to use would be of great benefit to the people of the world ... I believe that the possibilities of radio are unlimited, and that the majority of the people have no idea of what radio's future holds in store.”
When Jack Murdock graduated from high school in 1935, his father told him that some money had been set aside and that Jack could use it either to go to college or else to start his own business. In 1935, Jack opened a radio and electrical appliance sales and repair shop at 67th and Foster Road in southeast Portland. About a year later he met and hired a recent Reed College graduate, Howard Vollum, to handle the radio service duties.
The January 10, 1956, issue of TekTalk continues the story: “In 1939, the 67th Avenue location became too small for Jack's operation. As a result he bought a building at 59th and Foster. After remodeling and painting, this became one of the most complete and attractive appliance stores in the city. The main feature was a G.E. model kitchen, complete with everything necessary to cook and serve meals."
“Just as things got going in good style, World War II broke out. Appliance manufacture stopped and Jack closed up the appliance business to join the Coast Guard. His knowledge of radio was immediately put to use. First assignment was at the Seattle maintenance base. After a year of this duty, Jack came back to Portland, in charge of a group of radio technicians. His last assignment was as radar and racon installation man, operating out of Seattle.”
While in the Coast Guard, Jack Murdock seemed to make friends easily. Later some of these friends would work for him: Miles Tippery, Milt Bave, Bob Davis, Ken Walling, Howard Gault, Paul Belles, Sandy Sanford, Chuck Gasser, and Jim Castles. In the January 10, 1956, issue of Tek Talk the following description of Jack Murdock appears. "In characterizing Jack, we can say he gains the respect and admiration of all who know him by his quiet, sincere and genuine interest in arriving at the most fair, reasonable and considerate solution to an individual's and to Tektronix's problems.”
This January 5, 1955 TekTalk article features Jack's new plane.
This December 13, 1963 TekWeek announces Jack's appointment as the National Association of Manufacturers director.
This December 16, 1966 TekWeek Features Howard and Jack's 20th anniversary.
Jack was the Vice President and General Manager of Tektronix and in 1960 he became Chairman of the Board until his death in 1971.
This excerpt on Jack Murdock is from the Winning With People: The First 40 Years of Tektronix.
This excerpt from the March 23, 1984 Tekweek featuring an interview with Howard discusses the early days of Tektronix with Jack Murdock.
This May 18, 1971 Oregonian article describes the news of Jack's death. Click on the image to view the PDF.
This August 12, 1971 Oregonian article describes Jack's estate. Click on the image to view the PDF.
This August 22, 1971 Oregonian article describes Jack's memorial. Click on the image to view the PDF.
This August 26, 1971 Oregonian article describes the foundation created by Jack's estate. Click on the image to view the PDF.
We have two articles from TekTalk that highlight Jack's life and contributions. Click on the images to open the PDF documents.
There are not a lot of personal photos of Jack. Here are two, dates unknown.
We have a video of Jack Murdock on our Video Gallery that was produced by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
We also have a recording of Jack Murdock's presentation to the Portland Chamber of Commerce in November of 1966 where he focuses on the effects of automation on society. It can be listened to on our Audio Gallery.