Joseph Richard Murphy was born March 20, 1938 in Hudson Falls, New York. He is the second of seven children born to Marion McKinney Murphy and Clifford “Mike” Murphy: Jim, Peggy, Mary, Ruthann, Cliff (Mike), and Patrick. Except for a few years spent living in Hawaii while his father was stationed there with the military, Joe lived in Hudson Falls until college.
Joe attended St. Mary’s School and Hudson Falls High School. During his high school career, Joe was a standout football and basketball player (4-year varsity starter). His school record for the most rebounds in a single game (33) still stands. Under the guiding influence of Coach Tony Luciano and his wife, Mary, Joe completed his high school education and graduated in 1956.
Joe served in the United States Marine Corp and attended SUNY at Oneonta earning B.S. and M.S. degrees in Elementary Education. His educational honors include being a member of Phi Delta Kappa and a Visiting Fellow in Education at Skidmore College.
Joe applied his education as a teacher in the primary, intermediate, and junior high school levels. Joe completed his C.A.S. in Administration-Supervision at SUNY Plattsburgh in 1978 which enabled him to concentrate on curriculum and teacher development as well as parent and community outreach. He has served as a Vocational Administrator, High School Principal, and Superintendent of Schools. In addition, Joe served as consultant and writer for the NYS Education Department. He was an advisor and writer for the NYS K-6 Elementary Social Studies Curriculum, Canadian Studies Project, and writer of Planning for Social Studies in Elementary Education. Joe also co-authored with Dr. John Reed a symposium paper Piaget, Polanyi and Education.
Throughout his career Joe has held true to one underlying philosophy – “Do it for the kids.” To this end he has dedicated himself to causes that would impact the lives of children including Community Services Board Washington/Warren Counties, Youth and Justice Taskforce, Early Release Program Board, NYSPHAA Central Committee, Section II Executive Committee and Boys Basketball Committee, Assistant Director NYS Boys Basketball Tournament, and much more.
He has been honored by numerous organizations for his work on behalf of children and at-risk youth including: Warren/Washington Counties Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council, NYSPHAA Section II Basketball Committee, and Washington County EOC Community Action Angels.