The Baker: (Full Color Edition)

Murray Durst is an American original, a man whose life has been one of unique, diverse, and often diametrically-opposed experiences. Born in New York in 1932 to David Durst, an Austrian-Jewish immigrant and a sturdy one-time professional boxer who became a union organizer, Murray was an asthmatic, allergy-plagued little boy...who became a body-building champ, captain of his high school swim team, battle-toughened United States Marine, and expert martial artist; a young man who rubbed elbows with alleged-mobsters...yet amassed a personal fortune rooting out the ＂bad guys＂ through his insurance fraud detection companies; the son of a labor leader who formed his own union while still a teenager...who later in life became a multi-millionaire businessman; a life-long liberal Democrat...who now rails against government waste and who fervently trumpets the Presidential credentials of none other than Donald Trump to anyone will listen. After finding personal happiness with his second wife Lillian, Murray’s financial success enabled him and his (late) wife to devote much of their Golden Years to the pursuit of one of Murray’s life-long passions, thoroughbred horse racing. One of their horses, Lil’s Lad, was a precocious colt who won some important races at 2- and 3-years old, and for a time was the favorite for the 1998 Kentucky Derby. Racing fans will undoubtedly remember Murray’s ＂fifteen minutes＂ as that colorful, Damon Runyon-esque character so ubiquitously interviewed on the ABC and ESPN telecasts of the biggest Derby preps that year. Murray is currently living the life of a retired millionaire in Hollywood, Florida...but he’s always on the lookout for his next great adventure.