Melvin "Jack" Murdock was an American engineer, scientist and philanthropist from Portland, Oregon. He was a co-founder of Tektronix, Inc.
Background
Known as Jack, Melvin Jack Murdock was born in Portland, Oregon, on August 15, 1917. Upon graduating from Franklin High School, Murdock’s father offered him a choice of financing for college, or for a business. Murdock opened "Murdock Radio and Appliance Company" in 1935 in southeast Portland, where, in 1936, Howard Vollum began working as a radio technician in the back of the shop. Murdock served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.
Tektronix, Inc.
In 1946– headquartered a mere six blocks from his earliest family home –Murdock formed Tektronix, Inc. as an equal partnership with Vollum, fellow former "coastie" Miles Tippery, and accountant Glenn McDowell. Tektronix, Inc. quickly became one of the world’s largest manufacturers of oscilloscopes, as well as other electronic devices. The founders were known humanitarians who undertook business operations as one might run a large and caring family. In 1978, Tektronix was named by authors Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz, et al, as among The 100 best companies to work for in America in their book of the same name. Murdock began as the company’s vice president and general manager, before assuming the role of chairman, in 1960 — a position he would hold until his passing, in 1971.
Aviator and death
Jack Murdock began to learn flying in 1954 through a club hosted by Tektronix. Outside of his work, Murdock was a passionate aviator flying out of Pearson Airfield in Vancouver, Washington. His favorite plane was a Piper Super Cub and he operated a Piper aircraft distributorship in the Pacific Northwest. Murdock died on May 16, 1971, in a floatplane accident on the Columbia River. According to reports, there were high winds and the Super Cub overturned while taxiing on the water, near Maryhill, WA. The airplane was top heavy because Murdock had installed extra auxiliary fuel tanks in the wings. His body was never recovered, and he was declared legally deceased on June 11, 1971. He was 53 years old.
Murdock never married and had no immediate relatives. After his death in 1971 the majority of his estate — approximately $80 million – was left to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.
