Blood drive to honor Lt. Commander Murry Estabrook
Apr. 8—A tradition started by Lt. Commander Murry Estabrook will continue this year in his honor.
Estabrook initiated several blood drives with Claremore High School Naval Junior Officers Training Corp Reserve (NJROTC) as soon as he began working at the school 18 years ago. This year, Oklahoma Blood Institute is teaming up with CHS to host a blood drive in memory of Estabrook, who passed away in July 2021 after a brief battle with cancer.
The drive will be from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 12 at the Robson Performing Arts Center. Estabrook's wife Debra said the blood drives were something Estabrook felt needed to be done.
"There were kids in the district who were fighting cancer who got blood from the drives," Debra said. "He just loved helping people. It's just who he was.""
Estabrook taught high school JROTC for 27 years in Arkansas and Oklahoma, with the last 18 years in Claremore. He organized 50 successful blood drives at CHS and was recognized as OBI's Volunteer of the Year in 2020. Estabrook aided in nearly 4,000 blood donations, impacting around 12,000 local lives.
"The blood drive, that was his baby," Debra said. "We had a granddaughter that was born in 2018 who had to have platelet transfusions. So, that brought this home.""
Estabrook had a career in the Navy and graduated from Oklahoma University with a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering. He went on tours with VQ-1 Squadron in Guam, Japan, and the South Pacific. His experience in the Navy led him to get involved with the NJROTC.
Red Crown Credit Union is sponsoring the drive and said if 156 units are donated the most collected at a CHS blood drive it will donate $1,000 to the Claremore NJROTC STEM program. If 175 units are donated, it will give $2,000. If the drive reaches 200 units Estabrooks personal goal before he passed it will donate $3,000 to the NJROTC program.
If we can make the goal that he set, that would make him so happy, Debra said.
Debra said she will be donating at the drive with her sons, one of which is traveling from California to donate. Debra and Murry Estabrook were married for 50 years. Debra said she was continuously inspired watching Estabrook's helpful nature.
Anyone over the age of 16 is welcomed to donate. Sixteen-year-olds will need to submit a permission slip, which can be found in CHS's front office. Appointments are preferred and walk-ins will be managed as the schedule allows, according to an OBI press release. Appointments can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777.
