Wendell H. Murphy
Encyclopedia
Wendell H. Murphy is a former North Carolina
farmer
, Democratic politician
, and namesake of the Wendell H. Murphy Football Center.
Wendell H. Murphy was born in Rose Hill
, North Carolina
. In 1960, Murphy received a B.S. in agriculture
from North Carolina State University
. After graduating from college, Murphy became an agriculture teacher, but soon Wendell and his dad, Holmes Murphy, opened a feeding manufacturing operation. The operation started in 1964 with area farmers in open lots. By 1979, Wendell and Holmes Murphy had started sow and farrowing operations as well. The business is now known as Murphy Family Farms and is a part of the Smithfield Foods
operation.
In 1983, Murphy was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
as a Democrat. He represented North Carolina's tenth district until 1988. He was then elected to the North Carolina Senate
where he served until 1992. During this time, Murphy received a lot of attention for his work in politics including the Tar Heel of the Week Award by The News & Observer
in May 1987 and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine
in 1988. Murphy was later profiled by the News and Observer in their pulitzer prize-winning "Boss Hog" series. In these investigative pieces, the N&O illustrated the rise of the hog industry in North Carolina with the help of politicians, such as Murphy. During his time in state politics, Murphy sponsored or helped to pass bills which exempted hog facilities from local zoning laws, from environmental litigation from neighbors, and gave the industry generous subsidies and tax-exemptions. However, because NC laws do not prohibit state lawmakers from working on legislation in which they have a financial stake, Murphy did not technically break any laws.
Murphy was also mentioned in the Boss Hog series as having donated $100,000 in 1988 to Harold "Bull" Hardison's campaign for Lieutenant Governor. That donation was well over the $4,000 legal limit that is allowable under law. However, neither Murphy nor Hardison were prosecuted for this crime because it was discovered in 1992 after the two-year statute of limitations had expired. Policy observers have conjectured that the illegal contribution was in return for Hardison's support of the hog industry in the past, and for his sponsorship of the Hardison Amendments, which put an end to a number of environmental regulations that affected the hog industry.
Critics of Murphy claim that the laws he passed helped to enable unsustainable growth in the hog industry, which later caused massive water pollution resulting in fish kills throughout eastern North Carolina. Proponents on the other hand claim that his legislation helped to expand the industry at a time when it was needed to offset the job losses caused by the decline of tobacco farming.
While in politics, Murphy also helped with North Carolina State University athletics
. He was a member of the Centennial Authority, which helped develop the RBC Center, the home for NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
along with the Carolina Hurricanes
and Carolina Cobras
. In 1987, while serving as senator, Murphy sponsored legislation that gave 1.5 million dollars for the initial planning of the RBC Center. Murphy then kept working to get funding to the stadium until he eventually got 22 million dollars donated to the project. For his work with North Carolina State University athletics, the Wendell H. Murphy Football Center was named after Murphy in 2003.
Wendell Murphy now lives in his birthplace of Rose Hill
, North Carolina
with his wife Linda. He has four children and seven grandchildren.
The recent book Animal Factory has many references to Wendell H. Murphy
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and namesake of the Wendell H. Murphy Football Center.
Wendell H. Murphy was born in Rose Hill
Rose Hill, North Carolina
Rose Hill is a town in Duplin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census.Rose Hill claims to be the home of the world's largest frying pan.-Geography:Rose Hill is located at ....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In 1960, Murphy received a B.S. in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
from North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. After graduating from college, Murphy became an agriculture teacher, but soon Wendell and his dad, Holmes Murphy, opened a feeding manufacturing operation. The operation started in 1964 with area farmers in open lots. By 1979, Wendell and Holmes Murphy had started sow and farrowing operations as well. The business is now known as Murphy Family Farms and is a part of the Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods, Inc. is the world’s largest pork producer and processor. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, it runs facilities in 26 U.S. states, including the world's largest meat-processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, and has operations in Brazil, China, France, Mexico, Poland,...
operation.
In 1983, Murphy was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
as a Democrat. He represented North Carolina's tenth district until 1988. He was then elected to the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
where he served until 1992. During this time, Murphy received a lot of attention for his work in politics including the Tar Heel of the Week Award by The News & Observer
The News & Observer
The News & Observer is the regional daily newspaper of the Research Triangle area of the U.S. State of North Carolina. The N&O, as it is popularly called, is based in Raleigh and also covers Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill. The paper also has substantial readership in most of the state east of...
in May 1987 and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Order of the Long Leaf Pine
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, created in 1965, is an honor that can be granted in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The Longleaf Pine is the official state tree of North Carolina. As of Dec 31, 2006, the Order has been awarded to 6,672 individuals....
in 1988. Murphy was later profiled by the News and Observer in their pulitzer prize-winning "Boss Hog" series. In these investigative pieces, the N&O illustrated the rise of the hog industry in North Carolina with the help of politicians, such as Murphy. During his time in state politics, Murphy sponsored or helped to pass bills which exempted hog facilities from local zoning laws, from environmental litigation from neighbors, and gave the industry generous subsidies and tax-exemptions. However, because NC laws do not prohibit state lawmakers from working on legislation in which they have a financial stake, Murphy did not technically break any laws.
Murphy was also mentioned in the Boss Hog series as having donated $100,000 in 1988 to Harold "Bull" Hardison's campaign for Lieutenant Governor. That donation was well over the $4,000 legal limit that is allowable under law. However, neither Murphy nor Hardison were prosecuted for this crime because it was discovered in 1992 after the two-year statute of limitations had expired. Policy observers have conjectured that the illegal contribution was in return for Hardison's support of the hog industry in the past, and for his sponsorship of the Hardison Amendments, which put an end to a number of environmental regulations that affected the hog industry.
Critics of Murphy claim that the laws he passed helped to enable unsustainable growth in the hog industry, which later caused massive water pollution resulting in fish kills throughout eastern North Carolina. Proponents on the other hand claim that his legislation helped to expand the industry at a time when it was needed to offset the job losses caused by the decline of tobacco farming.
While in politics, Murphy also helped with North Carolina State University athletics
NC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...
. He was a member of the Centennial Authority, which helped develop the RBC Center, the home for NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
along with the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
and Carolina Cobras
Carolina Cobras
Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...
. In 1987, while serving as senator, Murphy sponsored legislation that gave 1.5 million dollars for the initial planning of the RBC Center. Murphy then kept working to get funding to the stadium until he eventually got 22 million dollars donated to the project. For his work with North Carolina State University athletics, the Wendell H. Murphy Football Center was named after Murphy in 2003.
Wendell Murphy now lives in his birthplace of Rose Hill
Rose Hill, North Carolina
Rose Hill is a town in Duplin County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census.Rose Hill claims to be the home of the world's largest frying pan.-Geography:Rose Hill is located at ....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
with his wife Linda. He has four children and seven grandchildren.
External links
- Wendell H. Murphy and Family Honored
- Murphy's Law: For Murphy, good government means good business
- http://pdfserve.informaworld.com/206832_751313002_788948953.pdf
The recent book Animal Factory has many references to Wendell H. Murphy