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{{Short description|American politician (1927–2024)}}
{{Short description|American politician (1927–2024)}}
{{for|the American author and journalist|Austin Murphy (writer)}}
{{For|the American author and journalist|Austin Murphy (writer)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
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| term_start = January 3, 1977
| term_start = January 3, 1977
| term_end = January 3, 1995
| term_end = January 3, 1995
| predecessor = [[Thomas E. Morgan|Thomas Morgan]]
| predecessor = [[Thomas E. Morgan]]
| successor = [[Frank Mascara]]
| successor = [[Frank Mascara]]
| state_senate1 = Pennsylvania
| state_senate1 = Pennsylvania
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| term_start1 = January 5, 1971
| term_start1 = January 5, 1971
| term_end1 = January 4, 1977
| term_end1 = January 4, 1977
| predecessor1 = [[William J. Lane|William Lane]]
| predecessor1 = [[William J. Lane]]
| successor1 = [[J. Barry Stout|Barry Stout]]
| successor1 = [[Barry Stout]]
| office2 = Member of the<br>[[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]
| office2 = Member of the<br>[[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]
| constituency2 = [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington County]]
| constituency2 = [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington County]]
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| term_end3 = November 19, 1970
| term_end3 = November 19, 1970
| predecessor3 = Constituency established
| predecessor3 = Constituency established
| successor3 = [[J. Barry Stout|Barry Stout]]
| successor3 = [[Barry Stout]]
| birth_name = Austin John Murphy
| birth_name = Austin John Murphy
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|6|17}}{{cn|date=April 2024}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|6|17}}<ref name=OR-Obit/>
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[North Charleroi, Pennsylvania]]}}, U.S.{{cn|date=April 2024}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|[[North Charleroi, Pennsylvania]]}}, U.S.<ref name=OR-Obit/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|4|13|1927|6|17}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|4|13|1927|6|17}}
| death_place =
| death_place = [[Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| education = [[Duquesne University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Pittsburgh]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| education = [[Duquesne University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Pittsburgh]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
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}}
}}


'''Austin John Murphy''' (June 17, 1927 – April 13, 2024) was an American politician who served as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] from [[Pennsylvania]] from 1977 to 1995.
'''Austin John Murphy Jr.''' (June 17, 1927 – April 13, 2024) was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1959 to 1968 and again from 1969 to 1970, a member of the Pennsylvania Senate from 1971 to 1977, and a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1977 to 1995.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Born in [[North Charleroi, Pennsylvania]], to Austin John Murphy Sr. and the former Evelyn F. Spence, Murphy grew up in [[New London, Connecticut]]. He later returned to Charleroi and served in the [[United States Marine Corps]] from 1944 to 1946. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] at [[Duquesne University]] in 1949 and an [[LL.B.]] at the [[University of Pittsburgh]] in 1952 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1953. He practiced law in [[Washington, Pennsylvania]], and was an assistant district attorney for [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington County]] before he was elected to the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]] in 1958.<ref name=OR-Obit/>
Born in [[North Charleroi, Pennsylvania]], to Austin John Murphy Sr. and the former Evelyn F. Spence, Murphy grew up in the town of [[New London, Connecticut]]. He later returned to Charleroi and served in the [[United States Marine Corps]] from 1944 to 1946. He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] at [[Duquesne University]] in 1949 and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] at the [[University of Pittsburgh]] in 1952 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1953. He practiced law in [[Washington, Pennsylvania]], and was an assistant district attorney for [[Washington County, Pennsylvania|Washington County]] before he was elected to the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]] in 1958.<ref name=OR-Obit/>


Murphy married Elieen Ramona McNamara Murphy on March 1, 1953, and they had seven children, 19 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Mona died March 1, 2016, in [[Nevada]]. Austin died on April 13, 2024, at age 96. He was survived by six of his seven children, 16 of his 19 grandchildren, and 16 of his 17 great-grandchildren.<ref name=OR-Obit>{{cite news |last1=Hundt |first1=Brad |title=Austin Murphy, longtime congressman, regional political leader, dies at 96 |url=https://www.observer-reporter.com/news/local-news/2024/apr/17/austin-murphy-longtime-congressman-regional-political-leader-dies-at-96/ |access-date=April 18, 2024 |publisher=Observer-Reporter |date=April 17, 2024 |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418001129/https://www.observer-reporter.com/news/local-news/2024/apr/17/austin-murphy-longtime-congressman-regional-political-leader-dies-at-96/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Murphy Obituary (1927–2024) – Monongahela, PA – Observer-Reporter |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/observer-reporter/name/austin-murphy-obituary?id=54885722 |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Legacy.com |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419031625/https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/observer-reporter/name/austin-murphy-obituary?id=54885722 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Murphy married Eileen Ramona McNamara Murphy on March 1, 1953, and they had seven children, 19 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Mona died on March 1, 2016 in while visiting their daughter's family in [[Nevada]]. Austin died on April 13, 2024, at age 96.<ref name=OR-Obit>{{cite news |last1=Hundt |first1=Brad |title=Austin Murphy, longtime congressman, regional political leader, dies at 96 |url=https://www.observer-reporter.com/news/local-news/2024/apr/17/austin-murphy-longtime-congressman-regional-political-leader-dies-at-96/ |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=[[Observer-Reporter]] |location=Washington, Penn. |date=April 17, 2024 |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418001129/https://www.observer-reporter.com/news/local-news/2024/apr/17/austin-murphy-longtime-congressman-regional-political-leader-dies-at-96/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Murphy Obituary (1927–2024) – Monongahela, PA – Observer-Reporter |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/observer-reporter/name/austin-murphy-obituary?id=54885722 |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Legacy.com |archive-date=April 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419031625/https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/observer-reporter/name/austin-murphy-obituary?id=54885722 |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Political career==
==Political career==
Murphy started his political career as a member of the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]], where he served from 1959 to 1971. He then served in the [[Pennsylvania State Senate]] from 1971 to 1977.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Harold |title=Pennsylvania Senate – 1977–1978 |work=[[Wilkes University Election Statistics Project]] |publisher=Wilkes University |year=2004 |url=http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/161S.pdf |access-date=December 13, 2009 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408125813/http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/161S.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=SM>{{cite web | last = Cox | first = Harold | title = Senate Members "M" | publisher = Wilkes University | work = [[Wilkes University Election Statistics Project]] | url = http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/SM.html | access-date = December 13, 2009 | archive-date = April 8, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160408112141/http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/SM.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 1976, he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]], replacing longtime incumbent [[Thomas E. Morgan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Barone (pundit) |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |title=[[The Almanac of American Politics|The Almanac of American Politics 1988]]|publisher=[[National Journal]] |year=1987 |page=1056}}</ref> He served as a delegate to the [[Democratic National Convention]]s in 1984 and 1988.
Murphy started his political career as a member of the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]], where he served from 1959 to 1971. He then served in the [[Pennsylvania State Senate]] from 1971 to 1977.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Harold |title=Pennsylvania Senate – 1977–1978 |work=[[Wilkes University Election Statistics Project]] |publisher=Wilkes University |year=2004 |url=http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/161S.pdf |access-date=December 13, 2009 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408125813/http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/161S.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=SM>{{cite web | last = Cox | first = Harold | title = Senate Members "M" | publisher = Wilkes University | work = [[Wilkes University Election Statistics Project]] | url = http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/SM.html | access-date = December 13, 2009 | archive-date = April 8, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160408112141/http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/SM.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 1976, he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]], replacing longtime incumbent [[Thomas E. Morgan]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Barone (pundit) |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |title=[[The Almanac of American Politics|The Almanac of American Politics 1988]] |work=[[National Journal]] |year=1987 |page=1056}}</ref> He served as a delegate to the [[Democratic National Convention]]s in 1984 and 1988.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}


===Scandals===
===Scandals===
Murphy was [[Reprimand|reprimanded]] by the [[100th United States Congress|100th Congress]] in December 1987 for ghost voting and misusing House funds. He diverted government resources to his former law firm, had a ghost employee on his House payroll and had someone else cast votes for him in the House. The scandal ultimately led to his decision not to seek reelection in 1994.<ref name="Reprimand">{{Cite news | title = Austin Murphy won't run again Democrat beset by controversies leaving congress | newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | date = January 19, 1994 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Austin%20Murphy%20Won%27t%20Run%20Again;%20Democrat%20Beset%20by%20Controversies%20Leaving%20Congress&s_dispstring=headline%28Austin%20Murphy%20Won%27t%20Run%20Again;%20Democrat%20Beset%20by%20Controversies%20Leaving%20Congress%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no | access-date = December 14, 2009 | archive-date = June 17, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180617015249/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Austin | url-status = live }}</ref>
Murphy was [[Reprimand|reprimanded]] by the [[100th United States Congress|100th Congress]] in December 1987 for ghost voting and misusing House funds. He diverted government resources to his former law firm, had a ghost employee on his House payroll and had someone else cast votes for him in the House. The scandal ultimately led to his decision not to seek reelection in 1994.<ref name="Reprimand">{{Cite news | title = Austin Murphy won't run again Democrat beset by controversies leaving congress | newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | date = January 19, 1994 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Austin%20Murphy%20Won%27t%20Run%20Again;%20Democrat%20Beset%20by%20Controversies%20Leaving%20Congress&s_dispstring=headline%28Austin%20Murphy%20Won%27t%20Run%20Again;%20Democrat%20Beset%20by%20Controversies%20Leaving%20Congress%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no | access-date = December 14, 2009 | archive-date = June 17, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180617015249/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Austin | url-status = live }}</ref>


In May 1999, Murphy was indicted by a [[Fayette County, Pennsylvania|Fayette County]] grand jury of engaging in voter fraud. He was charged with [[forgery]], [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]] and tampering with [[public records]]. Murphy insisted that he was only trying to help elderly nursing home residents fill out paperwork that accompanied an [[absentee ballot]]. According to the grand jury, Murphy and two others forged absentee ballots for residents of the nursing home and then added Murphy's wife, Eileen Murphy, as a write-in candidate for township [[election judge]]. The next month, following closed-door negotiations, all but one of the voter fraud charges were dropped. Following the hearing, he left the building by a back door to avoid an angry crowd outside. He was sentenced to six months probation and fifty hours of community service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19990622murphy6.asp|title=Six of seven charges against Austin Murphy dismissed|author=Heltzel, Bill|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=June 22, 1999|access-date=May 10, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804030409/http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19990622murphy6.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 1999, Murphy was indicted by a [[Fayette County, Pennsylvania|Fayette County]] [[grand jury]] of engaging in voter fraud. He was charged with [[forgery]], [[criminal conspiracy]], and tampering with [[public records]]. Murphy insisted that he was only trying to help elderly nursing home residents fill out paperwork that accompanied an [[absentee ballot]]. According to the grand jury, Murphy and two others forged absentee ballots for residents of the [[nursing home]] and then added Murphy's wife, Eileen Murphy, as a write-in candidate for township [[election judge]]. The next month, following closed-door negotiations, all but one of the voter fraud charges were dropped. Following the hearing, he left the building by a back door to avoid an angry crowd outside. He was sentenced to six months probation and fifty hours of [[community service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19990622murphy6.asp|title=Six of seven charges against Austin Murphy dismissed|author=Heltzel, Bill|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=June 22, 1999|access-date=May 10, 2017|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804030409/http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19990622murphy6.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Death ==
Murphy died on April 13, 2024 in [[Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania]], age 96. He was interred at Howe Cemetery in [[Long Branch, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batesville® |title=Obituary for Austin J. Murphy, Jr. at Frye Funeral Home, Inc. |url=https://www.fryefuneralhome.com/obituary/austin-murphy-jr |access-date=2024-08-28 |website=www.fryefuneralhome.com |language=en}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{Portal inline|Biography}}
*[[List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes]]
* [[List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes]]
*[[List of federal political scandals in the United States]]
* [[List of federal political scandals in the United States]]
*[[List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded]]
* [[List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{Cite news | title = Murphy arraigned on vote-fraud charges | newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | date = May 25, 1999
* {{Cite news | title = Murphy arraigned on vote-fraud charges | newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] | date = May 25, 1999
| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Murphy%20Arraigned%20on%20Vote-Fraud%20Charges&s_dispstring=headline%28Murphy%20Arraigned%20on%20Vote-Fraud%20Charges%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no}}
| url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Murphy%20Arraigned%20on%20Vote-Fraud%20Charges&s_dispstring=headline%28Murphy%20Arraigned%20on%20Vote-Fraud%20Charges%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no}}
*{{Cite news | title = Most charges against austin murphy dismissed | newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]| date = June 22, 1999 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Most%20Charges%20Against%20Austin%20Murphy%20Dismissed&s_dispstring=headline%28Most%20Charges%20Against%20Austin%20Murphy%20Dismissed%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no}}
* {{Cite news | title = Most charges against austin murphy dismissed | newspaper = [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]| date = June 22, 1999 | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PG&p_theme=pg&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&p_text_label-1=Most%20Charges%20Against%20Austin%20Murphy%20Dismissed&s_dispstring=headline%28Most%20Charges%20Against%20Austin%20Murphy%20Dismissed%29%20AND%20date%28all%29&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{s-aft|after=[[Frank Mascara]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 95th–103rd [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 95th–103rd [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]}}
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[[Category:American prosecutors]]
[[Category:Censured or reprimanded members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Censured or reprimanded members of the United States House of Representatives]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators]]
[[Category:Duquesne University alumni]]
[[Category:Duquesne University alumni]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania lawyers]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania lawyers]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Politicians from New London, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Politicians from New London, Connecticut]]
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[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:University of Pittsburgh School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]

Latest revision as of 03:00, 17 December 2024

For the American author and journalist, see Austin Murphy (writer).

Austin Murphy
Official portrait, 1990
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania
In office
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byThomas E. Morgan
Succeeded byFrank Mascara
Constituency22nd district (1977–1993)
20th district (1993–1995)
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 46th district
In office
January 5, 1971 – January 4, 1977
Preceded byWilliam J. Lane
Succeeded byBarry Stout
Member of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 6, 1959 – November 30, 1968
ConstituencyWashington County
In office
January 7, 1969 – November 19, 1970
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byBarry Stout
Constituency48th district
Personal details
Born
Austin John Murphy

(1927-06-17)June 17, 1927[1]
North Charleroi, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
DiedApril 13, 2024(2024-04-13) (aged 96)
Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Eileen Ramona McNamara
​
​
(m. 1953; died 2016)​
Children7
EducationDuquesne University (BA)
University of Pittsburgh (LLB)
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1944–1946 (active)
1948–1951 (reserve)
UnitUnited States Marine Corps Reserve

Austin John Murphy Jr. (June 17, 1927 – April 13, 2024) was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1959 to 1968 and again from 1969 to 1970, a member of the Pennsylvania Senate from 1971 to 1977, and a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1977 to 1995.

Personal life

[edit]

Born in North Charleroi, Pennsylvania, to Austin John Murphy Sr. and the former Evelyn F. Spence, Murphy grew up in the town of New London, Connecticut. He later returned to Charleroi and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1944 to 1946. He earned a B.A. at Duquesne University in 1949 and a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Pittsburgh in 1952 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1953. He practiced law in Washington, Pennsylvania, and was an assistant district attorney for Washington County before he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1958.[1]

Murphy married Eileen Ramona McNamara Murphy on March 1, 1953, and they had seven children, 19 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Mona died on March 1, 2016 in while visiting their daughter's family in Nevada. Austin died on April 13, 2024, at age 96.[1][2]

Political career

[edit]

Murphy started his political career as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where he served from 1959 to 1971. He then served in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1971 to 1977.[3][4] In 1976, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, replacing longtime incumbent Thomas E. Morgan.[5] He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1984 and 1988.[citation needed]

Scandals

[edit]

Murphy was reprimanded by the 100th Congress in December 1987 for ghost voting and misusing House funds. He diverted government resources to his former law firm, had a ghost employee on his House payroll and had someone else cast votes for him in the House. The scandal ultimately led to his decision not to seek reelection in 1994.[6]

In May 1999, Murphy was indicted by a Fayette County grand jury of engaging in voter fraud. He was charged with forgery, criminal conspiracy, and tampering with public records. Murphy insisted that he was only trying to help elderly nursing home residents fill out paperwork that accompanied an absentee ballot. According to the grand jury, Murphy and two others forged absentee ballots for residents of the nursing home and then added Murphy's wife, Eileen Murphy, as a write-in candidate for township election judge. The next month, following closed-door negotiations, all but one of the voter fraud charges were dropped. Following the hearing, he left the building by a back door to avoid an angry crowd outside. He was sentenced to six months probation and fifty hours of community service.[7]

Death

[edit]

Murphy died on April 13, 2024 in Carroll Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, age 96. He was interred at Howe Cemetery in Long Branch, Pennsylvania.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Hundt, Brad (April 17, 2024). "Austin Murphy, longtime congressman, regional political leader, dies at 96". Observer-Reporter. Washington, Penn. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Austin Murphy Obituary (1927–2024) – Monongahela, PA – Observer-Reporter". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Cox, Harold (2004). "Pennsylvania Senate – 1977–1978" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  4. ^ Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "M"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  5. ^ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1987). The Almanac of American Politics 1988. p. 1056. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Austin Murphy won't run again Democrat beset by controversies leaving congress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 19, 1994. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2009.
  7. ^ Heltzel, Bill (June 22, 1999). "Six of seven charges against Austin Murphy dismissed". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  8. ^ Batesville®. "Obituary for Austin J. Murphy, Jr. at Frye Funeral Home, Inc". www.fryefuneralhome.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 22nd congressional district
1977–1993 		Constituency abolished
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district
1993–1995 		Succeeded by
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