By Dennis McCaslin- Today in Fort Smith
A person's place of birth is usually random. Factors, including the migration of your ancestors and your family after your birth, but we all have a birthplace. Sometimes, if we rise to the level of "celebrity" our random birthplace will put us on a pedestal and use that fame to bolster our name to the public.
But sometimes the random birth of a person doesn't always bring accolades to a place.
For an Oklahoma man who became a leader in the world of the occult in the late 1930's until his death in 1985, claiming a hometown near the buckle of the Bible Belt while partnering with one of the most controversial figures in the world of the occult is not something the Chamber of Commerce is going to put in their tourism brochure.
Grady Louis McMurtry was born on October 18, 1918, in Big Cabin, which is in extreme southern Craig County. McMurtry was born to Bee Ivery Puckett McMurtry, who named him after his father.
His early life was marked by a series of moves across the Midwest, eventually settling in Valley Center, Kansas, where he graduated high school in 1937.
McMurtry’s journey into the world of the occult began during his college years in Southern California, where he studied engineering at Pasadena Junior College.
In 1941, McMurtry was initiated into the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), a secret society led by Crowley. His journey into the world of the occult was interrupted by a distinctive military career during WWII.
McMurtry was called to active duty in February 1942, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor he served as an officer in the Ordnance Corps and participated in several significant World War II events, including the Invasion of Normandy, the liberation of France and Belgium, and the occupation of Germany.
After the war, McMurtry returned to his studies, earning a degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
McMurtry’s dedication to Thelema deepened over the years. He maintained correspondence with Crowley and other prominent Thelemites, and in 1946, Crowley appointed him as his personal representative in the United States. This appointment would later prove crucial in McMurtry’s efforts to revive the O.T.O. after Crowley died in 1947.
McMurtry was married twice. His first marriage was to Helen Parsons Smith, the widow of Jack Parsons. This marriage connected him even more deeply to the Thelemic community. His second marriage was to Phyllis Seckler, a fellow Thelemite and a significant figure in the O.T.O.
In the early 1970s, McMurtry took on the monumental task of resurrecting the O.T.O., which had fallen into disarray. Under the motto Hymenaeus Alpha, he worked tirelessly to rebuild the organization, establishing new lodges and reconnecting with former members.
His leadership brought stability and growth to the O.T.O., which he led until his death on July 12, 1985 in Martinez, California.