Richard T. Murphy, Jr., a former chair of the CTS Executive Committee, passed away July 4. Murphy was the president and CEO of Murphy Logistics Solutions—and a landscape architect, teacher, entrepreneur, environmental pioneer, and industry and community leader.
“CTS benefited from a long and meaningful relationship with Richard, including his 12 years on the CTS Executive Committee, four of those as our chair and two as past chair,” says CTS director Laurie McGinnis. “He was a strategic and innovative thinker, and he applied those abilities to help us advance as a center. True to Richard’s nature, he stayed connected to CTS even after that service was completed, always willing to provide counsel, give a presentation on a freight-related topic, or host a tour at Murphy Warehouse when asked. We will miss Richard as a friend, mentor, and colleague.”
CTS honored Murphy in 2006 with the William K. Smith Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his private sector leadership and mentorship within the freight and logistics industry. He was awarded the University of Minnesota’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015.
His legacy includes a career in landscape architecture, including 25 years of teaching; close to three decades as a successful entrepreneur and business leader of Murphy Logistics Solutions; and his role as an optimistic and dedicated environmental advocate and highly regarded logistics industry and community leader.
“We greatly appreciated Richard’s interest and contributions to our work on the role of freight in Minnesota’s economic competitiveness,” says Frank Douma, director of the Transportation Policy and Economic Competitiveness program and the Humphrey School’s State and Local Policy Program. “From providing us with site visits to helping arrange key interviews, his support was invaluable to the success of our work from its earliest days.”