University of Wyoming
W. N. “Neil” McMurry was a World War II soldier and Wyoming entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was born in Gill, Colorado on September 12, 1923 and raised in Casper, Wyoming where he graduated from Natrona County High School in 1941. McMurry joined the United States Army on April 30, 1942, serving with the 385th Bomb Group in the European theatre as a tail gunner, waist gunner, and ball turret gunner on B17 Flying Fortresses. McMurry completed twenty-nine missions over Europe, including two missions on D-Day. He returned home to Wyoming, married, started a family and began building his business in highway construction and contracting with his business partner, Vern Rissler, forming Rissler and McMurry Company. Business ventures included the Jonah Field in Sublette County, the McMurry Business Park in Casper, and the Swan Ranch Business Park in Cheyenne. His philanthropy work focused on Wyoming citizens struggling with life; including single mothers attending Casper College and the McMurry Regional Training Center. McMurry passed away on July 19, 2012 in Casper.
Collection contains the audio recording and transcript of Neil McMurry’s oral history interview on April 28, 2011 with Rick Ewig, Associate Director of the University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by Neil McMurry at the date of processing.
This material was received from Neil McMurry in April 2011.
The collection was processed by Jamie J. Greene in March 2017.
Transcripts were created by the University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center and added to the collection in June 2016.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.