Campbell University

Former soccer All-American Richard Murphy was inducted into the Campbell Athletics Hall of Fame on Apr. 25, 1985.  During his four-year career from 1966-69, Murphy helped the Camels compile a 40-12-4 record and reach the NAIA national tournament for the first time in the program’s history.
 
A central defender, Murphy earned All-District 29 honors all four years at Campbell while gaining All-South Region recognition his final three seasons.  He was selected All-America after his junior year and became Campbell’s first athlete at the senior college level to achieve that honor.  A broken leg in his senior season ended hopes of a repeat performance.
 
Murphy was named the team’s outstanding defensive performer in 1967, 1968 and 1969.  He was named MVP of the 1969 Stetson Classic, where Campbell earned its first men’s soccer tournament title.  He was also named Campbell’s Outstanding Male Athlete in 1969.
 
In addition to serving as team captain for three seasons, Murphy was a Dean’s List student, who graduated with a B.S. degree in health and physical education in 1970.  He earned a graduate assistantship at the University of North Carolina, where he attained a master’s degree.
 
Murphy was a lifelong educator who spent his entire 36-year career in the Wake County Public School System and its predecessor, the Raleigh Public Schools.  Murphy taught and coached at Carnage Junior High and Broughton High School, where he also served as athletics director. 
 
The Board of Education named him the administrator of the Redirection program in 1979 and he later served as principal at East Wake High School and Jesse O. Sanderson High School. In 1993 he realized a lifelong dream when he was asked to open Leesville Road High School, the first new high school to open in Wake County since 1978. He later served the Wake County Board of Education as the Director of Secondary Programs, and upon his retirement he continued to consult with schools across the state to improve student learning.
 
Murphy also served as president of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and was a member of its Board of Directors.
 
Born in Dunn, and raised on Long Island, N.Y., Murphy was one of four brothers to attend Campbell.  He passed away on Mar. 19, 2011 at the age of 62 after a courageous battle with cancer.