Dr. Murray celebrates golden anniversary
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

Dr. Murray, left, May 1968, and, right, June 2007

In 1957, a young doctor fresh out of medical school set up practice in Waynesboro and hoped for the best.

Five decades later, Dr. B. Lamar Murray is still tending to the steady stream of patients filling the waiting room of his Fourth Street office.

July will mark the 50th anniversary of his practice in Waynesboro.

He's weathered five decades of social change, medical breakthroughs and growing healthcare programs since he graduated from the Medical College of Georgia in 1956.

Dr. Murray can remember charging $3 for an office visit and $60 for prenatal care and delivery combined.

"I always liked to see a boy because we charged fifteen dollars extra for circumcision," he jokes.

When he started, the only medications he could prescribe were penicillin and sulfa treatments, and Medicaid and Medicare were years away. Even health insurance was yet to become commonplace.

One thing that hasn't changed in those 50 years is Dr. Murray's passion for helping people, those closest to him say.

"I've never seen him turn anybody down for treatment," office manager Pat Odom said. She should know after working with him for 43 years.

Burke Medical Center administrator Jennifer Royal echoed Odom's comments about Dr. Murray's compassion for his patients.

"I've heard it said that if Dr. Murray had been paid for everybody he's seen, he'd be a millionaire ten times over," she said laughing, but with an air of belief.

Dr. Murray serves as the president of Health Span, the management company for Burke Medical Center.

If Dr. Murray has it his way, he'll continue in the same fashion for years to come. He won't hear any talk of retirement.

"Absolutely not," he says firmly. "I love what I'm doing, and I intend to keep on. Retirement is not even in my vocabulary."

He brushes off his medical milestone with the wave of a hand, saying "it's no big deal."

"It's just a matter of longevity," he reasons with a trademark broad smile spread across his face. "I've just been here a long time, and I don't really see anything special about that."

Dr. Murray will be honored for his 50 years of service with a reception Saturday, June 23. It will begin at 5 p.m. in the community room of Augusta Technical College's Waynesboro/Burke County Campus.

Burke County Commissioners have proclaimed Saturday as Dr. Murray Day.