Biography

1927 -

Born June 17, 1927, North Charleroi, son of Austin J. and Evelyn (Spence) Murphy; attended public schools in New London, Connecticut; graduated from Charleroi (Pa.) High School, 1944; B.A., Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, 1949; LL.B., University of Pittsburgh, 1952; admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1953 and commenced practice in Washington, Pa.; served in United States Marine Corps, 1944-1946; served as assistant district attorney, Washington County, 1956-1957; member of the Pennsylvania state house of representatives, 1959-1971; member of the Pennsylvania state senate, 1971-1977; delegate, Democratic National Conventions, 1984, 1988; elected as a Democrat to Congress 1977-1995); not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourth Congress in 1994.  His career was terminated after a series of legal and personal scandals.