Jack Medd Murphy (September 6, 1925 – May 3, 1984) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 32nd lieutenant governor of Idaho from 1967 to 1975.

Early life and education

Murphy was born in

Shoshone, Idaho Shoshone ( ) is the county seat and largest city of Lincoln County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,653 at the 2020 census. In contrast to the Shoshone Native American tribe for which it is named, the city's name is correctly pron ...

. He attended the

University of Utah The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...

Career

Murphy served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

during World War II as a sergeant. In the 1950s, Murphy became a lawyer in Lincoln County, Idaho. In 1952, Murphy's political career began when he was elected to the

Idaho Senate The Idaho State Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho Legislature. It consists of 35 senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho. Composition of th ...

. He served until 1966. On November 8, 1966, Murphy won the election and became a Republican lieutenant governor of Idaho. Murphy defeated William E. Drevlow with 52.21% of the votes. In 1967, Murphy served during the administration of Republican Governor

Don Samuelson Donald William Samuelson (July 27, 1913 – January 20, 2000) was an American Republican politician who served as the 25th governor of Idaho, from 1967 to 1971. He is the state's most recent incumbent governor to lose a re-election bid (1970). ...

. On November 3, 1970, as an incumbent, Murphy won the election and continued serving as the lieutenant governor of Idaho. Murphy defeated Paul S. Boyd and Wallace Hitt with 56.73% of the votes. Governor Samuelson was defeated by

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

Cecil Andrus Cecil Dale Andrus (August 25, 1931 – August 24, 2017) was an American politician who served as 26th and 28th List of Governors of Idaho, governor of Idaho, for a total of fourteen years. A Democrat, he also served as United States Secretary of ...

. Murphy was the Republican nominee for

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

1974 Major events in 1974 include the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis and the resignation of United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. In the Middle East, the aftermath of the 1973 Yom Kippur War determined politics; ...

, but was soundly defeated by Andrus. Murphy also served as a member of the board of regents of the Idaho State Department of Education.

Personal life

Murphy and his family lived in

. Murphy has four children. On May 3, 1984, Murphy died from heart failure in Shoshone, Idaho. Murphy is interred at Shoshone Cemetery.

References

External links

*
Jack M. Murphy in Sawtooth National Recreation Area: Hearings Before the Subcommittee on ... By United States. Congress. House. Interior and Insular Affairs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Jack M. Lieutenant governors of Idaho Idaho Republicans University of Utah alumni 1925 births 1984 deaths People from Shoshone, Idaho 20th-century Idaho politicians