Decorated helicopter rescue pilot, wrestling pioneer Murdock dies Raymond F. (Buck) Murdock, 69, of 523 Braden Street, Waynesburg, decorated helicopter rescue pilot and a pioneer in wrestling in Western Pennsylvania, died at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 4, 1992, in Greene County Memorial Hospital, after a long illness. He was born July 24, 1922, in Waynesburg, a son of Harry A. and Marian Washington Murdock. He lived his entire life in Greene County and was a 1948 graduate of Waynesburg College. During World War II, he served in the U. S. Air Force as a b-25 pilot, serving in the Air Jungle Rescue in the CHina-Burma-India Theater. He was a pioneer in helicopter rescue, and his rescue of a downed pilot near Shingbwiyang, Burma, earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1973, the Helicopter Association of America named him "A Recognized Pioneer in the Helicopter Industry." His personal flight mementos will be displayed at the Wirght-Patterson Air Force Museum in the museum's new Helicopter Rescue section, which will be opened later this year. In 1939, Mr. Murdock became the first PIAA wrestling champion from Waynesburg High School. He later became head wrestling coach at Waynesburg College, a position he held until his retirement from the sport in 1963. He is considered to be a pioneer in wrestling in western Pennsylvania. He was later inducted into the National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, PIAA, Western Pennsylvania and Waynesburg College wrestling halls of fame. He was a mathematics teacher and guidance counselor at Waynesburg High School in the Central Greene School District from 1952 to 1980. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg, where he served as a deacon. Mr. Murdock was a member of James Farrell American Legion Post 330 of Waynesburg and BPO Elks Lodge 757 of Waynesburg. He was a former member of Waynesburg Borough Council, representing the East Ward, and Waynesburg Lions Club. Surviving are his wife, Margaret Powell Murdock; three sons, William Dale Murdock of Canonsburg, Stephen H. Murdock of Ruff Creek and Richard M. Murdock of Purcellville, Va.; two sisters, Nellie Cowieson of Washington and Mrs. James (Mary) Hawkins of Lippincott; two brothers, Harry A. (Pete) Murdock of Waynesburg and Verner Murdock of San Diego, Calif.; and four grandchildren, Brandon, Erin, Elizabeth and Miles Murdock. Deceased are two sisters, Marie Murdock and Virginia Wilcox. Newspaper obituary, date and source unknown (Greene County, PA)

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