Kathryn Murray, 92, whose elegant dancing inspired millions of students in dance schools run by her husband, famed instructor Arthur Murray, died Friday in her sleep in Honolulu, Hawaii, relatives said.

The Murrays made ballroom dancing popular with their chain of dance studios across the United States in the 1940s. At its peak in 1952, when Arthur Murray sold the franchise, the chain had 500 studios around the world. It now has 275.

Arthur Murray died in Honolulu in 1991.

Kathryn Murray was host for the popular television show, "The Arthur Murray Dance Party," which first aired in 1950 and ran for 11 years on a variety of networks.

Michael T. "Mickey" Pablo, 51, chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and one of Montana's most prominent American Indian leaders, died Thursday of complications from knee surgery in Pablo, Mont.

Pub Date: 8/09/99