Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Goodman*, Murray H.
Murray H. Goodman*
- Induction:
- 1999
- Class:
- 1948
Ask almost anyone in the Patriot League, Ivy League or for that matter anyone who's been on Lehigh’s Goodman Campus what they think of Lehigh’s facilities and you will hear some rave reviews. Thanks to a visionary gift by Murray H. Goodman in 1983 and several others since, the 550-acre tract of land on the campus in Saucon Valley has developed into one of the premier collegiate sports complexes of its size.
Goodman was a member of the Lehigh basketball team from 1946-48 and to this day remains an ardent fitness enthusiast who is widely known for his support of Lehigh and Lehigh Athletics.
“Quite surprised,” is how Goodman responded when informed that he was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “I never thought I would qualify for such an honor. It was a great personal achievement to have played varsity basketball at the collegiate level and the competitive environment helped with my success in the business world. The personal friendships are something that will never be forgotten and the loyalty to Lehigh helped me get through the accelerated program in order to graduate in less than four years.”
Frank Majczan ‘44, a teammate of Goodman’s on Lehigh basketball team commented on Goodman's competitiveness on the court.
“Murray was our big man,” Majczan said. “He was a very hard-working player. He was at a disadvantage because many of the schools we played had ROTC programs because it was during the war. These guys were older and stronger, but Murray never backed down.”
Goodman's generous support of the athletics program helped to create what is now the Goodman Athletic Campus. This picturesque area located in the shadows of South Mountain features Goodman Stadium (football), Stabler Arena (basketball), the Philip Rauch Fieldhouse (track and field), the Cundey Varsity House, J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park (baseball), Leadership Park (softball), the Goodman Track and Field Complex, the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center, the outdoor Ulrich Tennis Courts, and one of the top cross-country courses in the nation. There is also a lighted practice field and numerous playing fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and intramural sports. Additionally, the campus is home to the Ulrich Sports Complex which consists of three separate fields for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.
The facilities are utilized year-round by Lehigh students, faculty, staff and residents of the Lehigh Valley Community. In addition, the site has hosted three NCAA Cross Country National Championships and several regionals, three NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships and several Pennsylvania high school cross country championships. The campus is also used regularly by several Lehigh Valley youth organizations.
In 1988, the campus became home to the 16,000 seat Goodman Stadium which is the site of Lehigh home football games. The stadium has also hosted numerous other events including National Football League scrimmages involving the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants Washington Redskins, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens; Olympic and World Cup soccer exhibition matches and NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships. Beginning in 2016, the stadium also served as the home stadium for the United Soccer league’s Bethlehem Steel FC.
“The amount of prestige that the Goodman Campus and its facilities bring to the athletics department and to the University as a whole is tremendous,” said former head football coach Kevin Higgins. “Goodman Stadium and the entire campus is a major focal point of our recruitment process.”
In addition to his support of athletics, Goodman also has shown great support for academics. Among other gifts, was the development of the Goodman Center for Real Estate Studies in Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics.
Goodman graduated from Bethlehem High School and served in the United States Air Force prior to attending Lehigh. He graduated from Lehigh in 1948 with a Bachelor's in business administration. In 1960 he formed the Goodman Company, a commercial and real estate development firm, now headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. He earned an honorary degree from the University in 1988.
Goodman served as a member of Lehigh’s Board of Trustees and is active in many local and national charities. He and his wife, Joanie, have five children.
Goodman was a member of the Lehigh basketball team from 1946-48 and to this day remains an ardent fitness enthusiast who is widely known for his support of Lehigh and Lehigh Athletics.
“Quite surprised,” is how Goodman responded when informed that he was to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “I never thought I would qualify for such an honor. It was a great personal achievement to have played varsity basketball at the collegiate level and the competitive environment helped with my success in the business world. The personal friendships are something that will never be forgotten and the loyalty to Lehigh helped me get through the accelerated program in order to graduate in less than four years.”
Frank Majczan ‘44, a teammate of Goodman’s on Lehigh basketball team commented on Goodman's competitiveness on the court.
“Murray was our big man,” Majczan said. “He was a very hard-working player. He was at a disadvantage because many of the schools we played had ROTC programs because it was during the war. These guys were older and stronger, but Murray never backed down.”
Goodman's generous support of the athletics program helped to create what is now the Goodman Athletic Campus. This picturesque area located in the shadows of South Mountain features Goodman Stadium (football), Stabler Arena (basketball), the Philip Rauch Fieldhouse (track and field), the Cundey Varsity House, J. David Walker Field at Legacy Park (baseball), Leadership Park (softball), the Goodman Track and Field Complex, the Lewis Indoor Tennis Center, the outdoor Ulrich Tennis Courts, and one of the top cross-country courses in the nation. There is also a lighted practice field and numerous playing fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and intramural sports. Additionally, the campus is home to the Ulrich Sports Complex which consists of three separate fields for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey.
The facilities are utilized year-round by Lehigh students, faculty, staff and residents of the Lehigh Valley Community. In addition, the site has hosted three NCAA Cross Country National Championships and several regionals, three NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships and several Pennsylvania high school cross country championships. The campus is also used regularly by several Lehigh Valley youth organizations.
In 1988, the campus became home to the 16,000 seat Goodman Stadium which is the site of Lehigh home football games. The stadium has also hosted numerous other events including National Football League scrimmages involving the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants Washington Redskins, New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens; Olympic and World Cup soccer exhibition matches and NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championships. Beginning in 2016, the stadium also served as the home stadium for the United Soccer league’s Bethlehem Steel FC.
“The amount of prestige that the Goodman Campus and its facilities bring to the athletics department and to the University as a whole is tremendous,” said former head football coach Kevin Higgins. “Goodman Stadium and the entire campus is a major focal point of our recruitment process.”
In addition to his support of athletics, Goodman also has shown great support for academics. Among other gifts, was the development of the Goodman Center for Real Estate Studies in Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics.
Goodman graduated from Bethlehem High School and served in the United States Air Force prior to attending Lehigh. He graduated from Lehigh in 1948 with a Bachelor's in business administration. In 1960 he formed the Goodman Company, a commercial and real estate development firm, now headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. He earned an honorary degree from the University in 1988.
Goodman served as a member of Lehigh’s Board of Trustees and is active in many local and national charities. He and his wife, Joanie, have five children.
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