Among the 2,700 students who will receive degrees during Wayne State University's spring commencement ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, in Cobo Arena are some students whose stories are out of the ordinary.
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82-year-old Ph.D. recipient
At 82 years old, retired attorney Charles McMurray of Dearborn Heights doesn't really need another degree. He already has five of them. The sixth will be a Ph.D. in political science from Wayne State University, where he earlier earned a law degree, a master's degree in tax law and a master's degree in political science. "I enjoy learning and the academic environment," he explains.
McMurray also holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Detroit and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He began working on his doctorate at WSU in 1992, shortly after receiving a master's degree in political science. His doctoral dissertation focuses on the impact of managed care on U.S medical schools.
Over the years, McMurray was employed in the law sections of various public accounting firms. He retired from his last full-time position (with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan) in 1981 and was a consultant to various organizations after that. He says his wife Claire has been very supportive of his quest for knowledge through education and research.
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Three siblings receiving master's degrees at same time
Talk about a well-educated family. . . Christine, Kenneth and Gerald Malone II all will receive master's degrees from Wayne State next Tuesday. Each already holds a bachelor's degree from WSU.
Another member of the Malone family, Julie, is working toward a bachelor's degree in WSU's School of Business Administration. And, making the Malone family's ties with the university even stronger, Gerald Malone Sr. and wife Patricia, are WSU graduates. She earned a teaching degree and he majored in business. The elder Jerry Malone is an accountant in WSU's Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Gerald Sr., Patricia and Julie live in Sterling Heights. Christine and Kenneth live in Warren. Gerald II, an engineer with Ford Motor Co., lives in Troy. Mother, Patricia, and daughter, Christine, teach school in Warren.
Note: For assistance reaching any of the graduates mentioned above, contact Tom Sakely at (313) 577-2150.