Longtime County Manager Murry S. Cable Dead at 50

Murry S. Cable, a career county government manager who held several high-profile positions, including manager of John Wayne Airport, died Thursday at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. He was 50.

Cable was hospitalized early this month at South Coast Medical Center near his Laguna Beach home with a critical lung infection, said John Sibley, director of public facilities and resources for Orange County. He also battled a recurring back injury suffered during his years as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot.

“He did so many good things for the county,” Sibley said.

Cable left county government in 1995 after a 22-year career, retiring as director of the Integrated Waste Management Department.

A Vietnam veteran who exhibited a passion for garish Hawaiian shirts, he earned the nickname “Rambo” over the years for his take-no-prisoners management style.

He was hired in 1973 into the county administrative office, where he headed the team to create what used to be known as the Human Services Agency. Subsequent assignments included negotiating the county’s agreement with UCI Medical Center to provide medical care for the poor, trouble-shooting at the airport during a contentious expansion debate and becoming the county’s first assistant administrative officer.

“Murry was a different kind of person but such a nice guy,” said county Clerk-Recorder Gary Granville, a friend of Cable’s for two decades. “He was the guy who was always handed the hot potato. He accomplished a lot during his years with the county.”

Former Supervisor Thomas F. Riley said Cable came to visit him last year when he was hospitalized at Hoag.

“I really appreciated the fact that he came by and said hi,” Riley said. “He was a strong person. I remember that in those days, that’s what I needed down at the airport. He was always a person who didn’t spring any surprises on you.”

Former County Administrative Officer Ernie Schneider worked with Cable for two years.

“I always thought he did a good job for the county,” Schneider said. “His untimely death is very unfortunate.”

Cable will be buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, next to his parents, Sibley said. Plans for a memorial service are pending.

He is survived by his wife, Judy.