RICHARD T. MURPHY SR.
Richard Tenner Murphy Sr., 87, passed away peacefully May 1, 2012, surrounded by his family.
RICHARD T. MURPHY SR.
Richard Tenner Murphy Sr., 87, passed away peacefully May 1, 2012, surrounded by his family.
Born June 4, 1924, to Francis Tenner Murphy and Edward L. Murphy Sr., he was two-years-old when his mother passed away leaving five children under the age 12. His father then met and married May McGinnis.
In 1942 he graduated from St. Thomas Military Academy (STA) and went on to the University of Minnesota graduating in 1946. Served in the Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary, from 1947 to 1973, retiring as a Colonel. In 1948 he married the 1947 St. Paul Winter Carnival Queen Helen Duffy. He was chairman and CEO of the Murphy family businesses (E.L. Murphy Trucking, Murphy Warehouse Company, Murphy Rigging) for over 50 years; he was the third generation to operate the transportation and warehousing companies. He also served as CEO of Shamrock Investments, LLC, and chairman of North Shore Management Board Advisory Committee. Dick held many distinguished positions in the transportation industry: president and director of Allied Distribution, Inc., Associated Warehouses, Inc., Heavy Specialized Carriers of America, Local Cartage National Conference, Minneapolis Transfermen’s Association, St. Paul Transfermen’s Association and Minnesota Trucking Association; vice president and director of the American Trucking Association; director of the American Warehouse Association, Upper Midwest Museum of Transportation, Specialized Carriers & Riggers Association, Metropolitan Council Transportation Advisory Board; and chairman of Specialized Carriers & Riggers Association.
Dick also had a great love of history and was an active member in several historical societies around the Twin Cities. He served as president of the Minnesota Historical Society and the Ramsey County Historical Society. He also had affiliations with the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, Heritage Preservation Commission of St. Paul, Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association and the Lake County Historical Society where he was instrumental in the painting and renovating of the early 19th century red one-room Larsmont School house which was then placed on the National Historic Register.
Other awards and honors received include the Charles W. Holman Aviation Achievement award, fellow of Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters; President of the Year award from Minnesota Motor Transportation Association; Paul Harris Fellow Rotary International award; Hames Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Thomas Academy; Golden Wheel Award for Distinguished Service from Specialized Carriers and Riggers Association; Distinguished Service Award from the American Warehouse Association, Lobaido Community Service Award from the St. Paul Winter Carnival; and the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Lifetime Achievement award.
A devout Catholic, he served as a lector and Eucharistic minister for 20 years at Nativity of Our Lord of St. Paul and Holy Spirit Church in Two Harbors, Minn. Dick was president and director of the Catholic Defense League of Minnesota, was awarded the Catholic Defense League Couples Award, and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He chaired the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ 150th anniversary celebration, donating a bronze sculpture of Saint Paul to the St. Paul Cathedral to coincide with the event.
Dick was very involved in his community; he served as director of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Minnesota, a trustee of Mounds Park Hospital Foundation, St. Joseph’s Hospital board, St. Thomas Academy boards, Siena Heights College; and director of Guild Residences, Inc. He also served as Director and President of Rotary International Club of St. Paul. He was active in the St. Paul Winter Carnival serving as Captain of the Royal Guard in 1949 and Prime Minister in 1961. The ultimate St. Paul Irishman, with his custom green silk-lined suits, green ties, green cars, and unforgettable green glasses, he represented the St. Paul Irish as “Mr. Pat” in 1999 for the St. Patrick’s Day Association. You would see him on weekends in his tan, paint splattered janitor styled “leisure suit” washing windows, cars, woodwork and vacuuming or painting anything that didn’t move, either in St. Paul or his beloved North Shore home.
He took his daughters on a trip of a lifetime to see their family roots in Ireland in 1979. After flying over on the Concorde, this southpaw couldn’t drive on the left side of the narrow stone walled roads while visiting castles, Irish pubs and kissing the Blarney stone to get “refueled”…what an adventure.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Helen Duffy; parents Francis Tenner Murphy, Edward L. Murphy Sr. and May McGinnis Murphy; in-laws Helen Cox Duffy and Harry Duffy; sisters Genevieve Maas, Dorothie “Dori” Fellows, and Althea Nelson; and brothers-in-law William Maas, Gray Fellows and James L. Nelson Sr.
Richard is survived by his children, Laurie Murphy of St. Paul, Richard T. Murphy Jr. of Minneapolis, Patrick Duffy Murphy (Dawn Squillace) of St. Paul, Sharon Murphy Garber (David) of Deephaven, Moe Murphy Aro (Brian Bernhardt) of Duluth and Myrna Lee Maurer of White Stone, Va.; grandchildren Gordon Bowers III., Alexandra, Tenner, Libby, and Madigan Murphy, Joshua, Benjamin and Thomas Murphy Garber, and Bailey Murphy Aro; brother Edward L. “Bud” Murphy (Mercedes); sisters Carole Faricy (Richard) and Patricia Millard (George); dear friends Virginia and Russ Tschida.; faithful dog Duffy; and caregivers Lori and Kelsey.
VISITATION: 4-8 p.m. Thursday, May 10, in O’Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home, 575 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, (651) 698-0796. Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, in Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 324 Prior Ave., St. Paul. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Dick’s family prefers memorials to St. Thomas Academy, 949 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights, MN 55120; http://www.alumni.cadets.com/page.aspx?pid=333 or Guild Incorporated Administrative Offices, 130 South Wabasha St.. Suite 90, St. Paul, MN 55107, http://www.guildincorporated.org/donate.
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