Longtime Madison community leader Edward (Ed) L. Murray, Jr., a founding member of 100 Black Men of Madison and a dedicated member of the Dane County branch of the NAACP, was honored with the 28th annual Rev. James C. Wright Human Rights Award at the City Common Council meeting on Tuesday night.
“Known for his humble and selfless character, Murray has dedicated over 50 years to serving those in Madison’s community who were most in need, reflecting Reverend James C. Wright’s character and legacy as a dedicated public servant,” the City of Madison said in a press release. “As a leader and founding member of 100 Black Men of Madison, Ed led youth and adult-based programs through the organization’s ‘Mentoring the 100 Way Across a Lifetime’ program, serving thousands of youths and adults of all races and genders across the Greater Madison area. This mentoring program provided crucial services, including face-to-face mentoring, online mentor training, a virtual mentee curriculum that includes health and wellness materials, and post-secondary academic scholarships.”
The annual Rev. James C. Wright Human Rights Award is presented in honor of Rev. Wright, a civil rights pioneer in Madison who worked to bring about the adoption of the City of Madison’s Equal Opportunities Ordinance in the ’60s. He served as a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission prior to his appointment as executive director for the Equal Opportunities Commission. Rev. Wright retired in 1992 after 24 years of service to the City of Madison.
