MISSION VIEJO : City Renames Center After Its First Mayor

In terms of history, this 5-year-old city doesn’t have much to compare with communities like neighboring San Juan Capistrano, which traces its lineage back to the 18th-Century Mission San Juan settlers.

Mission Viejo’s prominent figures are still alive, and city fathers aren’t waiting until they pass away to honor them.

On Saturday, Norman P. Murray was the center of attention during dedication ceremonies officially renaming the Mission Viejo Community and Senior Center after the city’s first mayor.

The celebration and speeches held at the community center, 24932 Oso Viejo Road, were a low-key affair. Several city leaders and others who have known Murray were on hand to speak about his contributions to the city.

“We wanted to weave Norm’s dedication into a presentation that will give a historical perspective on how Mission Viejo has developed so far,” Kelly Doyle, city parks director, said before the event. “These are key people who were integral to the birth of the city, who know how important Norm was to cityhood in Mission Viejo.”

Murray has been credited by city officials as the driving force behind incorporation committees. And when voters decided to make the Mission Viejo community a city in 1987, they selected Murray as one of the five original City Council members. The newly formed council named Murray to serve as the city’s first mayor.

Although he didn’t win reelection in 1992, Murray continued to work for Mission Viejo. He currently serves on the Planning Commission and the Historical Committee and is active in several service organizations.

During the tribute to Murray, the city’s five-year anniversary was celebrated with a cake and the unveiling of a quilt bearing the city seal.