University of Connecticut Athletics
Former Football Letterman, State Trooper, Craig Murray, 38, Dies
5/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, Conn. (May 7, 2008) -- Former University of Connecticut fullback Craig Murray passed away of natural causes on Saturday at age 38 while camping with his family in Ashford, Conn. After UConn, Murray went on to serve in the Connecticut State Police where he worked as a detective and was most recently assigned to the State Police forensic polygraph examiner unit.
A native of Hamden, Conn. where he attended Hamden High School, Murray earned three varsity letters at UConn as a fullback from 1989-91, playing in a total of 20 games and carrying the ball 12 times in his career for 63 yards with a touchdown, coming on a 14-yard run against Richmond in a 42-24 Homecoming victory on Oct. 27, 1990.
Murray entered the State Police Academy in November of 1994. He served with Troop A in Southbury, Troop G in Bridgeport and later Troop C in Tolland when he relocated with his family to Stafford Springs. He also served as a popular School Resource Officer at E.O. Smith High School in Mansfield. In 2007, he requested an assignment as a State Police polygraph examiner and successfully completed his coursework at the elite polygraph examiners school to earn that assignment.
Murray has remained active with the UConn program, often attending the team's semesterly job fairs to discuss careers in law enforcement with current Husky student-athletes. At right, he talks with Derek Chard at the team's most recent job fair.
Murray is survived by his wife Laura and their three children Tyler, Alyssa, and Jasmine. He is also survived by his father John Murray and his wife Kathy, nine brothers and sisters, his mother in law Mary Lou Hill, two brothers in law and their wives and many nieces, nephews and cousins.The funeral with full State Police Department honors will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday May 10 at John E. Julian Heritage Park Stafford St., Stafford Springs. Calling hours are on Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs. Memorial donations may be made to the Craig M. Murray Children's Education Fund, c/o Rose Roszczewski, P.O. Box 25, Stafford Springs, CT 06076.
