Tragic Accident

Dallas film blogger dies in car crash while crossing busy street

Gary Murray, right, with friend Michael Hernandez

Photo courtesy of Michael Hernandez

Gary Murray, a Dallas film writer and president of the North Texas Film Critics Association, was killed in a car crash on April 23. Murray, who was 53, died doing what he loved most: covering the art of film.

Murray was on-site at the Dallas International Film Festival when he was hit by a car while crossing Mockingbird Lane. His death was confirmed by his brother Danny.

"My brother Gary was killed last night in Dallas," Danny said. "He was hit by a car that ran a red light while he was walking at a crosswalk, and the person did not even stop."

According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to a call at Mockingbird and North Central Expressway service road regarding a hit and run at approximately 10:16 pm. A vehicle, possibly a truck, hit a pedestrian and left the scene. The individual was transported by DFR to Baylor Medical Center.

Publicist Kelly Kitchens Wickersham said that Murray was leaving the Highlands Dallas Hotel and crossing Mockingbird Lane at the intersection of US-75 when he was hit.

"Apparently, the car came up the frontage road and took a right onto Mockingbird without stopping," she said.

Murray had experienced some complications from diabetes in the past year and walked with a cane. "Several of his toes had been amputated, he'd been in and out of the hospital, but he was doing really well," Wickersham said.

According to his friend Jason Logan, Murray passed away at Baylor Hospital a little after 2 am.

"Police are investigating to find out who ran him down as he crossed through a crosswalk on Mockingbird Lane last night," Logan said in a Facebook post. "He was conducting interviews for the Dallas International Film Festival and he was innocently walking back across Mockingbird when some coward decided to plow through the right turn lane to get to 75, ran him down, and kept on going."

Murray was a columnist, critic, and reviewer who began writing in 1989 for the North Dallas Movie Review. He also wrote for Entertainment Showcase, TheCityWeb, PopSyndicate.com, BigFanBoy.com, and Selig Film services. He was a founding member of the North Texas Film Critics Association and served as president since 2009.

He was also a comedian who taught comedy defensive driving, and had worked at The Magic Time Machine Restaurant and Lounge, where he was beloved by coworkers such as Clint Ford, who posted a memoriam to him.

"While I was working in costume in 2001 at the themed restaurant, The Magic Time Machine Restaurant and Lounge, I was trained for a month by Gary Murray," Ford said. "Gary was kind, patient, and a great instructor."

Dallas Film Society president Lee Papert said that the Dallas International Film Festival, which ends on Sunday April 24, would acknowledge Murray's passing at the screenings airing during its final two days.

"We talked to his friends and associates who said that Gary would want the festival to continue, since he loved nothing more than film," Papert said. "We're putting up an 'in memoriam' notice before each of the screenings in memory of Gary."

They'll also host an event dedicated to Murray in the future.

"We'll work with his family and close friends to have some kind of memorial event after the other funeral arrangements are taken care of, maybe with one of his favorite movies, where we invite all his friends and film press," Papert said.

A statement from the Dallas Film Society expressed shock and sadness "by the tragic passing of our friend and colleague, Gary Murray last night following the DFS Honors event."

"Gary was a familiar face on the red carpet and was instrumental in bringing attention to our filmmakers and the Dallas Film Society mission," the statement said. "Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family at this time. Gary was a friend to many in the film world and a huge fan of DIFF. He was highly respected and loved by many and leaves behind a true passion for film."

On Murray's last post on April 21, he was doing what he loved: interviews on the red carpet.

"On the scene Dallas on the red carpet with Michael Hernandez at this year's DIFF," he wrote. "Covering several days and watching a bunch of movies!!!! Loving it!!!!"

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Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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