-John Murdoch - Annual Citizen’s award for local philanthropy goes to owner of Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply

Bozeman Daily Chronicle
By Michele Corriel

December 21, 2004 - Oh sure, John Murdoch, of Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply, is on several boards, gives money to charitable organizations and attends rotary. But the real reason he was given the Third Annual Citizen’s Award is because he’s a role model for us all.

When Murdoch talks, he speaks from his heart. And when he sizes up a situation you know he’s got more on his mind than profit and loss margins. Take for example, Murdoch’s version of his best dollar ever spent.

“It was Christmas Eve and I was heading out the door, at the end of a really busy day, when this guy comes up to me. I’d never met him before but he introduced himself and then said, ‘You folks sell exactly what I have to have, but I don’t have any money. If we don’t have it we’re going to be frozen out this Christmas.’

“Oh brother! I’d thought I’d heard them all. But I grabbed an employee and had him get the pump the man needed and I put it on my own personal account,” Murdoch said. “I figured I was never going to see that money again, but it was Christmas. Six months later, that guy walked into the store with the full payment. And then he told me, ‘You will never know what an impact you had on mine and my daughter’s life.' And I see the guy today has a pretty solid little program going here in town. And I’ve always been amazed by it. You never know. But I’ve got enough overall confidence in the human race that out of a hundred people that want to do something there aren’t very many who are going to put it to you.”

Dick Walter, the first recipient of the Citizen’s Award, nominated John Murdoch, husband of 18 years, father of seven, grandfather of 13, for the award this year.

“I nominated John because he is a real community person,” Walter said. “Most of the time he’s in the background and not a lot of people see what he does. But John’s a man of his word, if he tells you something you can take it to the bank.”

Which is exactly where many charity organization do take it.

“This gives you an idea of some of things he contributes to: bowling leagues, MSU Athletics, Carroll College Athletics, local school athletics, American Legion Baseball, community rodeo, 4-H, he even sponsored one of the Broadway shows,” Walter said. “And he does this in all twelve cities where his stores are located. He helps the Humane Society, sponsors the local hockey groups, Bozeman Deaconess Foundation, Eagle Mount and more.”

Murdoch’s creed in helping his fellow man extends beyond his checkbook.

“He devotes a lot of time to the community, not just money,” Walter said. “One other thing I can tell you, within the management group of his stores, he fosters the motto: Take care of people. He’s a real people person, people always come first. He stands by his word, even if it costs him money. He’s the first person to help someone who needs help, but he does it quietly.”
Walter met Murdoch for the first time about five years ago.

“I just, out of the clear, picked up the phone and asked John for a donation for Bozeman Deaconess Foundation,” Walter said. “He thanked me for asking and gave me the donation. Then he said, 'You’re the first person who asked me to be a part of it.’ That’s how I got to know John Murdoch.”

Almost 10 years ago, Murdoch had decided it might be time to retire. He’d been a partner in a ranch and home supply store in Idaho. He and his partner had different ideas about where the store should go, so Murdoch decided he’d step off the daily treadmill, put his feet up, relax, and enjoy his hard-earned leisure. Maybe find a little business to keep himself busy.

That didn’t last very long.

“By the end of a month I was bored stupid,” Murdoch says. “I just couldn’t do it.”

Murdoch’s wife decided she wanted to move to Bozeman.

When they got to town, Murdoch heard that the people who owned Big R wanted to get out, so he bought the company when it was still located on North 7th Avenue. Just the one store. He figured it would keep him out of trouble.

“Opportunities would arise,” Murdoch said. “And before I knew it we had twelve stores in four states.”

Murdoch’s philanthropic attitude comes through not just in the Bozeman store, but in all his stores.

“All the towns we’re in have been good to us,” Murdoch said. “It’s pretty easy to give back.”

One of the places Murdoch says is easy to give to, because they do so much in the community to change people’s lives for the better, is Eagle Mount. Eagle Mount provides therapeutic recreation for people with disabilities and children with cancer. Currently, of all the contributors to Eagle Mount, Murdoch is the top supporter.

“John is a major supporter,” Linda Griffith, spokesperson for Eagle Mount, said. “He’s such a great, generous guy. He donated a horse training device, so we could train our therapy horses. He comes to our events.”

Two of his employees are on Eagle Mount’s board of directors.

“John Murdoch is very generous about encouraging his employees to get involved in the community,” Griffith said. “He just has the greatest heart and the greatest attitude about life. That love of life and of people shines out of his eyes. He’s a wonderful, gregarious human being who is fun to know. I think his positive attitude spreads to the people around him.”

Not only do his dollars work for Eagle Mount but his reputation helps as well.

“He’s made a huge impact on our programs,” Griffith said. “Just having his business associate with us is a validation because he is so respected that it validates any organization he chooses to be involved with.”

Ensconced in his comfortable office, relaxed on the leather couch in front of a face-warming fire, a 62-year-old Murdoch thinks back on the people who gave him the foundation for his belief system, the community-minded attitude that makes him such a good citizen.

“Both of my folks worked,” he said. “My dad was a bank teller, and my mom was a school teacher. They both worked hard for what they had. But if there was anybody in true need, they would figure out some way to help. My grandparents were the same way.”

He recalled a time in Blair, Nebraska, where he grew up, when his dad had a bit of a financial setback but his mother was still teaching.

“I remember sitting down as a family, and they talked about how important it was to support this church,” Murdoch said. “They just weren’t rolling in the cash at that time, but because of all the things the church was doing for other people in the community, we had to find a way to come through for the church. The message was pretty obvious. We didn’t need to have a lot of extras to be happy, there were more important things in life.”

That message has carried John Murdoch a long way.