Longtime Clarion Area Coach, Athletic Director Bob Murphy Passes
Clarion Area School District, the athletic department and the Clarion community have lost a fine gentleman, as the much loved and well respected Robert (Bob) Murphy, also known as Murf, passed away on Friday, August 19th, at 87.
Mr. Murphy had a major positive impact on the students and athletes for many years.
His career at Clarion Area Junior-Senior High school covered thirty-six years.
He taught junior high science for three years, and driver education for thirty-three years.
He was the Varsity Boys Basketball Coach for many years (1960-1976). His Bobcats won two Clarion County League Championships, while finishing second nine times and three District Championships.
Coach Murphy’s 1961-1962 squad won the Western Pennsylvania Championship by defeating Hyndman 55-47. They fell to Jim Thorpe in the PIAA Championship Game. Coach Murphy’s Bobcats made it to the Western Championship Game again the next season, 1962-1963 as did the 1965-66 squad.
During Coach Murphy’s tenure, the Basketball Team had a 246-139 record.
He started the Clarion Area Golf Team in the late 1950s, coaching them for thirty-three years. During that span, the Bobcats won two District Nine and three League Titles. The team had two District Nine individual Boys Champions, one Girls Champion and fifteen State qualifiers. Three of his golfers finished in the State Top 10.
An accomplished golfer himself, Coach Murphy won the Men’s Championship and Senior Championship at Mayfield. He had nine holes-in-one.
He was the Clarion Area Athletic Director during his last seventeen years there.
Coach Murphy was a member of the PIAA District Nine Committee for ten years and served on the Athletic Directors Executive Council. He was also a longtime member of the State Athletic Directors Association and a District Nine representative to the PIAA Board of Control.
He had a fine athletic career at East Brady High School as well as Slippery Rock and Clarion State Colleges.
Coach Murphy, is survived by his wife Janice, twin sister Carolyn, his seven children: Deborah (Mark) Whisner of Clarion; Robert M. Murphy of Sterling, VA; Diana (Bill) Hager of Hawthorn, PA; Brian (Marilee) Murphy of Sterling, VA; Julie (Bill) Brosius of Elverson, PA; Bradley Murphy of Orlando, FL; and Jennifer (David) MacInnes of Bonita Springs, FL. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
Family and friends will be received from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 25th at the Robert V. Burns Funeral Home in Clarion. Additional viewing will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, August 26th at the Clarion First United Methodist Church where funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. John E. Flower presiding.
Clarion Sports Zone joins this entire community in mourning this loss. Condolences to Mrs. Murphy and the entire Family.
Link to complete obituary:
https://www.rvburnsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Robert-Murphy-64/#!/Obituary