The November Bobcat Trailblazers of the Month are Chad and Chase Murray.
The Murray brothers were born and raised in Hempstead, TX, and are now raising their own families in Hempstead. The Murray brothers also own a successful growing business, C&C Sports & Apparel, and are big supporters of Hempstead ISD.
After graduating as Valedictorian of Hempstead High School in 2009, Chad attended Texas A&M University. He was a first-generation college student and graduated in three years with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a minor in Engineering Technology. After college graduation, he took a job with Logan Industries as a mechanical designer and now serves as the Sales Manager for Oil and Gas. He also manages a team and provides the company with budget update forecasting and customer development models.
“I had fantastic teachers and coaches in Hempstead ISD that prepared me for college and the world,” Chad Murray explained. “Hard work, dedication, and respect were demanded of me each day, which is no different than what is required of you in the real world. Hempstead ISD educators and my parents instilled these values in me at a young age.”
Chase Murray, attributes his time in Hempstead ISD to his personal and professional success. He spent his time playing sports in high school and was on the 2011-2012 varsity football team to go undefeated all the way to the state football championship. That experience helped him realize that “hard work pays off, it takes everyone to build something great, and everyone’s role is just as important as yours.” He now uses that same formula with his team at C&C Sports & Apparel.
Chase graduated from Hempstead High School in 2012 and attended Blinn College and the University of Houston before he caught the entrepreneurship bug and was elected to Position 5 on the Hempstead City Council in 2021.
In 2018, the Murray brothers started C&C Sports & Apparel in their parent's garage. The company manufactures youth sports uniforms, corporate apparel, and promotional products in Hempstead. They have come a long way from their parent's garage. The C&C Sports & Apparel team is on their third location after outgrowing previous locations and they currently have more than 25 full-time employees.
Since spreading their wings and starting their own careers and businesses, the Murray brothers make it a point to give back to the Hempstead ISD and Hempstead community.
“I love the fact that I am from Hempstead, live in Hempstead, and plan on staying in Hempstead,” Chad Murray explained. “We will never forget where we came from, and we do our best to help wherever we can.”
Over the years, the brothers have sponsored various Hempstead ISD athletics, campus, FFA, and theater projects. Additionally, they have given back to the local 4-H Clubs, Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, Focusing Families, rebuilt the Hempstead Little League, as well as providing countless individual sponsorships to numerous children in the community.
“I’m grateful to be in a position to give back to my community by serving on City Council, to be a voice for others, and to simply be the people we were looking for when we were kids in school,” Chase Murray said.
The journey to success after graduation was fueled by support from family and educators who believed in the brothers.
“The two people who have made the biggest impact on my life are my parents,” Chase Murray expressed. “They taught me respect and how to treat people how I would want to be treated. I think their advice has served me well in my adult years and I can’t thank them enough for all they have done for me.”
Chad echoed the sentiments of his brother by explaining, “I was taught at a young age how to work hard, respect myself and others, and always remain humble. I was constantly reminded of these qualities throughout my childhood. At this point in my life, I am now teaching these same qualities to my three boys.”
A passion for community and giving back to Hempstead has created a unique synergy for the alumni and these Bobcat Trailblazers want to continue to encourage the students of Hempstead High School.
“You have to believe in yourself,” Chase Murray said. Don’t wait for change to happen in the outside world. Change starts with you and you are so much more powerful than you think. With a vision and belief, you can accomplish great things.”
Chad encourages students to be proud of being a Hempstead Bobcat and to understand that they are capable of earning success with hard work and dedication.
“I never let the fact that I am from Hempstead be omitted from the conversation when I am introduced to someone new,” Chad Murray said. “High school was one of the best parts of my life and I encourage any high school student to take advantage of the time you have within those halls. You only get one chance to make it count.”
If you are a graduate or know a graduate of Hempstead High School and would like to nominate that individual for our monthly Alumni Spotlight, please fill out the Bobcat Trailblazer Form.