Morrell Gathright

Murphy Morrell Gathright (March 14, 1919 – October 7, 2014) was a state legislator, businessman, and lawyer in Arkansas.^[1] He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate, including as President of the Arkansas Senate. The Arkansas Senate has a collection of photographs including several of him.^[2]

Morrell Gathright
Member of the Arkansas Senate
In office January 12, 1953 – January 10, 1983
Preceded by	James T. Wimberly
Succeeded by	Jay Bradford
Constituency	20th district (1953–1973) 24th district (1973–1983)
President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate
In office January 13, 1969 – January 11, 1971
Preceded by	Q. Byrum Hurst Sr.
Succeeded by	Olen Hendrix
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Jefferson County
In office January 10, 1949 – January 12, 1953
Succeeded by	Sam M. Levine
Personal details
Born	Murphy Morrell Gathright (1919-03-14)March 14, 1919 Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	October 7, 2014(2014-10-07) (aged 95) Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Alice Purnell
Children	2
Education	University of Arkansas (MBA, LLB)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War II

He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with an MBA and from The University of Arkansas Law School. He served in World War II.^[3]

Gathright first served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1949 until 1951^[4] he then served in the Arkansas Senate from 1952 until 1982, including his term as president 1969 until 1970.^[2]

He owned Gathright Van & Storage Co., which his father P. D. Gathright Sr. founded in 1927. He died October 7, 2014 aged 95 and was survived by his wife Alice Purnell Gathright. They had a son and daughter as well as numerous grandchildren.^[3]