R.I.P.-1960 Olympian Tom Murphy passed away this morning (June 18) 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 himrace, 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!
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
** It was a chance meeting with Harry Groves that convinced George Steinbrenner to lend financial support to the Penn Relays.
