Dr. Billy Murphy, a 1954 graduate of Ridgely High School in Lake County, Tennessee, played all four years on the school football and basketball teams. He accepted a football scholarship to Memphis State University (University of Memphis) in the fall of 1954, but transferred to Union University three semesters later after disappointing injuries on the field.
Dr. Murphy quickly became friends with Al Allen, art professor and former Memphis State student, who was in the process of reviving the track and field program at Union. Billy worked out with the team in anticipation of fall 1955 competitions.
Billy quickly excelled in numerous field events, most notably shot, discus, and pole vault, winning first place in all three events. He also competed in the long jump and javelin. Dr. Murphy’s trademark was his willingness to compete in any event that would result in the accumulation of points for him and his team. Called upon to fill in for an ill team mate, Billy ran hurdles, never before attempted, and won second place.
In 1957 and 1959 the Union team won the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) conference championships due in part to the prolific production of points by Billy Murphy. Over the course of his track career, Dr. Murphy set records including the 120 high hurdles, pole vault, discus, and shot. He was also a member of the record-setting 440, 880, and mile relay teams. In 1958 and 1959, he was voted “Outstanding Athlete” in the VSAC.
While a student at Union, Billy was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, served as student coach of the 1958 Cross Country team, selected as “Mr. Union" for the 1957-58 school year and elected President of the 1959 Senior Class.
Dr. Murphy earned his Masters and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and began serving as a bi-vocational pastor in various churches in addition to teaching and coaching on the high school and college level.
From 1991-2003, Billy extended his passion for athletics to the Senior Olympics, participating in the shot, discus, javelin, pole vault, long jump, high jump, along with the 100-yard dasy,200-yard dash, race walk and the 60 yard hurdles. He has won many gold, silver, and bronze medals at both the district and state levels.
Since retirement in 2004, he has busied himself with a prison ministry as a Director of Schools for the Whiteville, Tennessee Correctional Facility. Dr. Murphy and his wife, Nancy, make their home in Henderson, Tennessee.
