The Montford Inn is located in central Norman near city offices , OU and the County Courthouse .
have a good national reputation and have won national awards that we ’ ve kept up .”
Guests with business at OU , Norman Regional Health Systems and City of Norman stay at the Montford Inn . Often performers at Jazz in June and Norman Music Festival kick back and relax there . Hollywood actor Helen Hunt was a guest for a month when she was filming the 1996 movie “ Twister .” Her autographed photo hangs in an Inn hallway . Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby has spent the night there . The Nation ’ s flag is among those flying out front . The Inn has a “ Chickasaw Rancher ” themed guest room with Western decor and some artifacts from the original ranch . It ’ s a popular room assignment that people request . her block . When Murray was a child she ’ d “ help ” onearmed next door neighbor Bennie Owen ( 1875-1970 ) hoe in his garden . Owen was OU ’ s head football coach 1905-1926 .
“ When we named the Inn we wanted it to be meaningful ,” Murray said . “ Montford has a connection to Norman and to our family . It ’ s a name known around Oklahoma and west Texas . Norman has been a good place to live and do business ,” she said . “ This is home to me . Norman means a lot to our family and I want people to love Oklahoma because we have so much in this state .”
“ Right now we have guests from Florida , Minnesota and California ,” Murray said . “ The Sister City delegation from Clermont-Ferrand , France here to visit the Norman Arts Council stayed with us this week . We ’ re at the crossroads of America .”
Montford has a personalized feel . The staff ask guests about any dietary issues they may have with the breakfast and snacks served at the Inn ’ s dining room . Native artifacts including some owned by Montford and son E . B . are part of the Inn ’ s interior decorating .
“ We ’ re not a hotel and know more about our guests ,” she said .
Murray resides in what was her grandparents ’ 102 year old home near campus . It ’ s the most senior structure on
Phyllis Murray and her son William Murray are innkeepers at the Montford Inn .
NormanMagazine . com | MAY / JUNE 2022 11