V 1 N. 11 Tom Murphy R.I.P.

 

          (Though difficult to read, this press photo is the finish of the 800 meters at the US Olympic Trials 
           at Stanford University 1960 with Tom Murphy, Manhattan,,  edging Jerry Siebert, Cal Berkeley, at             the line.   Coming on for third is Stanford's Ernie Cunliffe who in turn edged Jim Dupree of                         Southern Illinois for the third position on the US team.)


Our colleague Walt Murphy reported yesterday the passing of his cousin  Tom Murphy.   Tom was one of the top half milers in the late 1950's and early 1960's representing his country in international meetings including the dual meet with the U.S.S.R. in Philadelphia in 1959.  He was also a member of the US team that set the world record in the 4x880 along with Jack Yerman, Ernie Cunliffe, and Jerry Siebert.  Although the US team was beaten in that race, they got credit for the win because the winning team was composed of runners from more than  one nation.  Tom's running inspired cousin Walt to be interested in track and field and that in turn led to Walt beginning his newsletter, which has today evolved to "This Day in Track and Field" which is one of the most extensive sources of track and field history on the planet.  He is Walt's reporting on his cousin.  I'll always remember Tom Murphy's chin out chest forward style.  GB

Below is Walt's reporting on Tom's passing.

 

R.I.P.-1960 Olympian Tom Murphy passed away this morning at the age of 89.

         My cousin was one of my first sports heroes (along with Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers). The whole Murphy clan

             followed his exploits throughout his career and he’s the reason I’ve had a life-long association with the sport!

         He’s the reason I went out for the track team at St. Augustine H.S. in Brooklyn, the same school he attended.

         He’s the reason I started going to meets at Madison Square Garden—first to watch him race, and then to sit with him

              at the Millrose Games once his career was over.

         I’ll miss the occasional discussions we would have about the “good old days” and the current state of the sport.

         Tom’s Career

         High School

         Set two National High School Indoor Records(flat-floor) at 600-yards at NY's Armory

         Anchored St.Augustine (Brooklyn,NY) to a win in the championship mile relay at the 1953 Penn

              Relays

         1953 CHSAA Outdoor Champion--440-yards, was 2nd in the Javelin!

        

         His son Keith ran the opening 800m leg on the John Gregorek-anchored St.Anthony’s team that won the H.S.

             Distance Medley at the 1979 Penn Relays. Keith’s sons Thomas and Patrick, would also compete for St.Anthony’s

             at Penn. In 2024, the Murphy family was the recipient of The Steinbrenner Family Heritage Award, which

             recognizes multi-generational families for their support and dedication to the Penn Relays!

Photo included in attached file

         College(Manhattan)

         1958 IC4A Indoor Champion--600-yards

         1958 All-American--2nd (to Ron Delany) in the 1/2-mile (880-yards) at the NCAA Championships

         Anchored Manhattan College to victory in the featured mile and 2-mile relays at the 1958 Millrose 

                    Games at Madison Square Garden; Also anchored the Jaspers to a win in the 2-mile relay at the 1957 Penn

                    Relays. Member of the Manhattan College Hall of Fame

         Post-College

         1959 U.S. and Pan American-Games Champion--800-meters

         1959--Winner of the 800-meters at the 2nd USA-Soviet Union dual meet in Philadelphia--also ran on

             the winning 4x400 relay

         1960 U.S. Indoor champion--600-yards

         2-time winner of the half-mile at the Millrose Games (1959,1960)

         Winner of the 800-meters at the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials--ran 1:46.7, just one second off the world record at

             the time; Semi-Finalist in the 800-meters at the 1960 Olympics in Rome

         Member of the U.S. team that set a World Record in the 2-mile relay in 1960

         Worked for many years at Jostens, selling school rings and trophies to high schools and colleges in the New York

             area.

       https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/78829

         https://gojaspers.com/honors/manhattan-college-athletic-hall-of-fame/tom-murphy/22

 

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