Los Angeles County
Biographies
EARL
DENHAM MURPHY
Earl
Denham Murphy is a well-known and well-liked local attorney as evidenced by his
recent unopposed re-election as City Attorney of Alhambra. He has held this office since July 1,
1957. He has been practicing law in the
City of Alhambra since October 15, 1947.
His private law practice at 320 North Garfield Avenue in Alhambra is
primarily a general practice with some special emphasis on Municipal Law.
Mr.
Murphy is the son of Earl David Murphy and Anna Laura (Denham) Murphy, born May
11, 1919, in Los Angeles, California.
Mr. Murphy takes pride in the fact that he is a sixth generation
America. His paternal ancestors arrived
in this country in 1636, while several ancestors on his mother’s side came here
before the Revolutionary War.
The
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl David Murphy, and their young son came to Alhambra
in 1920, moved to San Gabriel and to Monrovia for short periods, but have lived
in Alhambra since 1927, where his mother still resides. Mr. Murphy has also lived in Alhambra since
1927, with the exception of five years’ residence in San Marino from 1951 to
1956.
After
receiving his elementary education at Central Grammar School and Alhambra High
School, graduating in 1931, he attended Occidental College and received his Bachelor
of Arts Degree in 1939. He continued his
education at Harvard Law School, which he left in 1942 with a Bachelor of Law
Degree, and took a post-graduate course at Law School, University of Southern
California, in 1946.
Mr.
Murphy served in the United States Navy in World War II. He reported to active duty June 5, 1942, was
commissioned Ensign United States Navy Reserve on October 8, 1942, Lieutenant
Junior Grade in 1944, and Lieutenant in 1945.
He was first stationed in Notre Dame, Indiana, as instructor in
Ordinance United States Navy V-7 program.
He later served as Executive Officer of the L.C.I. (G) 473, and L.S.T.
1109. His last duty station was
Commanding Officer L.S.T. 1109.
Mr.
Murphy was admitted to practice law in California on April 7 1947, and began
his law practice in the city of Alhambra on October 15, 1947, where he is still
practicing. He was admitted to practice
law before the Supreme Court of the United States on October 15, 1959.
In
1948 he was appointed a member of the Civil Service Board of Trustees for
Alhambra. He resigned in 1952 to accept
the appointment as Alhambra City Prosecutor and Deputy City Attorney. He held this office until July 1, 1957, when
he was elected by the voters of Alhambra to the position of Alhambra City
Attorney for a term of four years. Mr. Murphy
was unopposed for re-election in 1961 and is now serving his second term.
Mr.
Murphy is a member of the California State Bar Association, National Institute
of Municipal Law Officers, and San Gabriel Valley Bar Association, of which he
was president in 1956.
On
October 9, 1942, Mr. Murphy married Miss Mary Margaret Claeys
in South Bend, Indiana. They have three
boys and two girls: Marilyn Ann Murphy,
born March 11, 1948; Denham Michael Murphy, born November 1, 1950; David
Randolph Murphy, born October 16, 1952; Marcia Jean Murphy, born March 20,
1956, and Mark Earl Murphy, born April 15, 1959. Mr. Murphy is a member of Holy Trinity
Episcopal Church in Alhambra, and has taken an active part in his church
affairs. He served as President of the
Young People’s Fellowship in 1936 and as Vestryman from 1952 to 1957.
Fraternally
he belongs to the Alhambra Elks Lodge, B.P.O.E. 1328, and to Granada Lodge No.
608, A. & F. M. He is also a member
of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. While
at Harvard Law School he belonged to the Chancery Club.
He
joined the Alhambra Lions Club in 1948, served as Secretary from 1950 through
1952, and as President from 1957 to 1958.
Mr. Murphy is a member of the Alhambra District Young Men’s Christian
Association and served as a member of its board of directors from 1958 to 1961,
and was president of the board of directors during the year 1960. He is a member of the Alhambra Chamber of
Commerce, and served as director of the organization for three years from 1951
to 1953. As a member of the John Howard
Strain Post of the American Legion, he was elected Adjutant in 1958.
When
Mr. Murphy steals time away from community activities, his hobbies are bridge,
badminton and chess.
Transcribed
by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Historical Volume &
Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel &
Temple City, by Robert P. Studer, Pages 413-416,
Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California.
1962.
© 2012 V.
Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES