Murray Q. Smith, who made his mark on aviation journalism steering his Professional Pilot magazine for more than five decades, died on December 25. He was 89.
“As you may know, he had to step down from his captain position due to medical reasons, although he still visited the office regularly. He will be truly missed around here,” the magazine said in announcing Smith’s passing. “We want to reaffirm our full commitment to this industry and assure you that Pro Pilot will carry on with Murray’s mission.”
Honored during the 9th annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards in 2012, Smith was well known within aviation circles as he remained deeply involved in the magazine that he launched 53 years ago. Aimed at issues affecting pilots, managers, and dispatchers, the magazine perhaps is best known for its reader surveys.
“Murray was a giant in the world of aviation publishing and pioneered an entirely new way of communicating the benefits of corporate aviation,” said Jack Sykes, who was art director for Professional Pilot from 1996-2012, adding Smith “did so much for business aviation…He certainly had an impact on my life.”
"For decades, Murray Smith and his team have brought well-deserved attention to the people and companies that represent the best of our industry,” agreed NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “He didn’t just cover business aviation—he was business aviation. His boundless energy and insight will be missed, along with his magazine's well-informed journalism, which raised the bar on safety and professionalism for pilots everywhere.”
For Smith, flying was a life-long passion, and he kept his ATP and CFI certificates current until the day he died. Born in Chicago, Smith joined the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency after obtaining a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and began his career as a technical writer, according to Airport Journals. But shortly after that, he joined the U.S. Navy and, among other things, was tasked with writing reports on evaluations of autopilots, flight directors, and weather radar, Airport Journals had reported. This was all experience that eventually would play into his venture a decade later as he founded Pro Pilot.
“Murray was a trailblazing aviation trade magazine publisher and brought many unique features and relevant content about business aviation in the pages of Pro Pilot magazine,” said Kelly Murphy, a partner in Emerald Media and a spokesperson for Women In Aviation, who held editorial roles at Professional Pilot from 1984-1987. “He had a decades-long work ethic and was a fantastic champion for FBO service excellence and flight department safe best practices...He will be sorely missed, and his wonderful wife, Eleni, is dedicated to continuing Murray’s legacy with future issues of Pro Pilot.”
Along with a colorful approach to aviation publishing, Smith’s publication became known for bringing in young talent who would later become leading editors in aviation journalism. “Like so many budding aviation journalists, I worked for Professional Pilot magazine early in my writing/editing career," said AIN news editor Chad Trautvetter, who served with Professional Pilot from 1996-1998. "Murray had a real eye for talent, and many of his ‘graduates’ have gone on to run some of the biggest-name aviation publications over the years.”
Smith is survived by his wife Marcia “Eleni,” who has been the assistant to the publisher and directed advertising sales for the magazine, along with his two sons, David and Alexander.
