MURPHY, John F. (Jack)

Jack Murphy (March 1, 1926 - June 21, 2002), pioneering Arizona broadcaster and former Administrative Assistant to Senator Barry Goldwater, died June 21, 2002, of Pulmonary disease. He was 76. Murphy presented the first television newscast in Arizona on Dec. 4, 1949 on Arizona's first television station, KPHO-TV. He continued as Arizona's first news anchor, news director and executive producer. Murphy developed the foundation for television news coverage. In 1956 Murphy moved to the former KOOL-Radio & TV where he was Vice President for News/Public Affairs and was executive producer of Arizona's first television documentaries and numerous highly acclaimed documentaries covering sensitive subject matter of the 1960s. In addition to handling all special programming and public affairs for Channel 10, he won numerous awards for excellence in television. In 1993 Murphy was inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Throughout his career he was also a popular speaker and guest lecturer. His technical papers include information on TV production techniques, newsroom management and broadcast newsgathering techniques. He coordinated development of the first television courses for credit at Phoenix College. During his broadcasting years Murphy also played a regular leadership role in a wide variety of professional, civic and community organizations. These included the Society of Professional Journalist-Sigma Delta Chi, National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Phoenix Press Club, The Phoenix Thunderbirds, Phoenix Little Theatre, Men's Arts Council of the Phoenix Art Museum and Samuel Gompers Memorial Clinic. In 1969 Murphy was recruited by the United State Information Agency (USIA) to develop a television network in South Viet Nam for the Republic of Viet Nam. On Murphy's departure in 1972 he left a flourishing five-station Vietnam National Television Network entirely operated by the Vietnamese. Upon his return to the U.S., Murphy spent a short period as Deputy Director of Communications for the Department of Interior where he developed and implemented nationwide realignment of Department of Interior Public Information Services. On special detail to Pennsylvania he developed a broadcast capability for what later became the Joint Federal Agencies Informational Program of the Federal Flood Recovery Program. Murphy was sought in 1974 by Senator Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) to work with him on behalf of the citizens of Arizona in Washington, D.C. Murphy became Goldwater's Administrative Assistant, representing him in a variety of official capacities. In early 1981 Murphy moved to the Agency for International Development (AID) where, as Director of Legislative Affairs he directed and supervised the strategy for passage of the first successful appropriations bill in five years for AID. Later in 1981 Murphy moved to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs. He was the Major link between NASA officials and Congress, working to maintain legislative and public support for the American Space Program. In 1987 Murphy left Washington, D.C. to become Chief of External Affairs at NASA'S Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. Retirement brought him back to Arizona in 1991, where he eventually settled in Wickenburg. He again became an active citizen serving in a number of civic and community organizations including the Arizona Space Commission, Maricopa County Transportation Citizens Advisory Committee, Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee and as a Trustee of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum (Maricopa County Historical Society).Murphy was inducted into the Navy immediately after graduation from Phoenix Union High School in 1944. He served as an Electronics Technician until discharge in 1946. While serving in the Naval Reserve, Murphy was one of the organizers of Phoenix's USNR Public Affairs Unit. He attended Phoenix College, the University of Arizona and the University of California at Los Angeles NBC Radio Institute. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Murphy was an Episcopalian and a Mason. John F. (Jack) Murphy, Jr., was born to John F. (J.F.) Murphy and Myrtle Irene O'Brien Murphy on March 1, 1926 in Orlando, Florida. They moved to Arizona in 1928. Murphy is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mary Elizabeth Murphy; two daughters: Kathy Murphy Harber (Randy) of Atlanta, Georgia and Pat Murphy Alderman (Ron) of Gilroy, California; and two grandchildren: Patrick Beckhelm of San Jose, California and Kelly Alderman of Gilroy, California. Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, July 13, 2002, at St. Barnabas on the Desert, 6715 North Mockingbird Lane, in Scottsdale, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations to House of Broadcasting Museum, 7534 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, Arizona 85020; Episcopal Community Services, 114 West Roosevelt, Phoenix, Arizona 85003; Desert Caballeros Western Museum 21 North Frontier St., Wickenburg, Arizona 85390. The Arizona Republic July 7, 2002