John Murphy: Building Mobile County for 36 Years

Posted on: Apr 27th, 2011 | News and Announcements

When John Murphy got his job with the county of Mobile as assistant county engineer, he was the youngest in the state. Today, he?s probably the oldest. In an unusual tribute, both the County and the City of Mobile will be honoring him today. The County will host a farewell party set for 2 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at Government Plaza. Starting at age 28, Murphy has lived the history of modern Mobile County. He helped map out and build the infrastructure of roads we know today. He was first responder during decades of hurricanes, including the two biggest ever to strike the Gulf Coast. Murphy and his boss, Public Works Director Joe Ruffer, both started at the county of Mobile in the top two jobs in the mid-70?s. They were the youngest duo at the helm of a county in the state of Alabama. ?John is not just a damn good engineer,? Ruffer noted, ?but a great engineer.? Commissioner Mike Dean worked with Murphy for 11 years. ?I?ve enjoyed working with him and consider him not only a brilliant engineer, but a friend. He?s given me a lot of great advice over the years and is one of the people at the county I really look up to. He will be sorely missed.? Commission President Merceria Ludgood, who worked also as a county attorney with Murphy, shares a long history with him as well. ?John Murphy's expertise as an engineering professional will be greatly missed. But even more so will we miss his evenhanded approach to problem solving. One of his gifts is his ability to balance the competing interests that often surface as the County works to chart a course forward. Whether or not your position prevails, you walk away knowing that your point of view has been heard and fully considered. He is fair and honest in all his dealings. John is a great engineer and an extraordinary human being.? During his long public service career, Murphy shepherded the building of at least 1,100 miles of roadway and 26 bridges as the point-man for the county?s Pay-As-You-Go Road and Bridge Program. He is first man out after a hurricane, helping organize cleanup and clearing roadways. While Katrina has grabbed recent headlines, Frederick used to be the benchmark. ?We were not as big back then and we had to bring in the National Guard from the north part of the state,? Murphy remembered. ?Each one of us [in the county] took one of their units and we worked with chain saws opening up the roads until it turned dark,? he said. ?Then we went home and started up the next day again. It lasted more than a month. And then we did paperwork on it for the next two years.? Not much at work has changed over time, according to Murphy. ?We?ve got newer gadgets, but still basically we?re trying to serve the public and using good judgment to put public funds to the best use.? Family, fishing and boating also occupied his time. Murphy helped raise a family of two boys and three girls with his wife, Phyllis, of 45 years. The kids, in turn, bestowed on him 22 grandchildren, ranging in age from one week to 21 (plus one more on the way). Balance of work and family was rarely a problem. ?I was brought up that we had to set priorities and it was the Lord first, family second, job third, and everything else happened after that,? he said. ?He will be greatly missed by everyone, not only for his job professionalism and extensive knowledge, but for his quiet strength and exceptional character,? said Commissioner Connie Hudson.