Page 15 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2023 - Online Magazine

TEXAS TECH CENTENNIAL

Basin) and found stimulating work consulting for
various oil companies in Midland.
A field trip in 1985 to Van Horn, Texas proved to
be significant for Sally. Two busloads of geologists
endured the long trip, spent nights in the Holiday
Inn and studied geological formations in the field
for several days. Dr. Grover Murray had lost his wife
Nancy, but the lifelong learner loved geology and
happened to be on the same trip. Grover and Sally
crossed paths several times. Back in Midland, Dr.
Murray said to Sally as they walked to their cars,
“I often make business trips to Midland. At some
future time, I would like to take you to dinner.” Sure
enough, several months later, they had dinner at
Midland’s Hilton Hotel. “He ordered Steak Tartare.
I knew then he was unique because very few people
enjoy that rare cut of meat.”

The friendship blossomed, and Dr. Murray’s trips to
Midland grew more frequent. One year after they
met, October 26, 1986, the couple returned to Van
Horn and were married at the Holiday Inn. It was
Grover Murray’s 70th birthday. The two enjoyed

then on, when asked where I would go to
college, I would always say, ‘I’m going to Texas
Tech!”

After two years at Tyler Jr. College, her parents
put her on a bus to Lubbock, and Sally Sowell
became a Red Raider. “I thought my professors
were very intelligent, caring, and made their
subjects enjoyable. I also liked meeting fellow
students, plus there were always plenty of
activities going on.” She took advantage of every
opportunity to learn and grow.

Sally’s first degree in Broad Field Science
included biology, chemistry, physics, astronomy,
and more. When she taught in public schools,
she was often required to teach geology at the
middle school level. Sally enjoyed the subject so
much that she decided to get a degree in it. “It
has opened doors to travel, different jobs, and an
introduction to people I would never have met.
Of course, Grover Murray would be at the top of
the list.”

Sally’s teaching career began at Evans Jr. High
School in Lubbock and took her to other Texas
high schools and Central Texas College in
Killeen. In 1981, she received a degree in geology
from UTPB (University of Texas of the Permian

Lubbock Senior Link 15