Matthias B. (Matt) Murfree III, J.D. 1969, B.A. 1966, died November 5. He was 70.
Murfree was a partner with his son, Matthias B. (Bricke) Murfree IV ’03, in Murfree & Murfree in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where they are descendants of the city’s namesake.
Over the course of his career, Murfree served as county executive and chairman of the Rutherford County Commission and as county commissioner, president of the Rutherford County Bar Association, president of the Chamber of Commerce and vice chairman of the Main Street Board. He was also a board member and former chairman of St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital and a board member of St. Thomas Health Systems and of MidSouth Bank.
Murfree represented Rutherford County in negotiations that brought Nissan Motor Manufacturing to Smynra, Tennessee. He chaired the county’s Health, Education and Welfare Committee and led the establishment if the Rutherford County Ambulance Service. He was named Business Legend of the year by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce in 2002.
In addition to his son and law partner, Bricke Murfree ’03, he is survived by his wife, Kitty Murfree, and another son, Davis Murfree.
