Written by Fariss Murphy
Mike stayed home and attended Odessa College for a year, right after H.S. graduation. He took the basic Freshman classes. He also borrowed his brother, Bill’s, clubs and took Golf for P.E.!
He returned the clubs at the end of the year and went 500 miles away, to Stephen F. Austin State College, in Nacogdoches to major in Forestry. Thirty years later, he decided to actually get a set of clubs and start playing golf!
He was so appreciative that he had such good instruction of the basics, way back, at Odessa College! He encouraged me to play, and we really enjoyed playing at golf courses all over Texas and even some in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arkansas. He even made a Hole-in-One on April 17, 2004!
Mike was one of a kind and a real keeper. I spent the summer of my Junior year at his house. Visitors included
all the lifeguards from all sides of Midland. We even passed senior English in summer school that everyone else flunked or nearly flunked. Now ODC was a stopping point for many in order to get going or just stay afloat between college breaks. We miss you Mike. Juanito