RALEIGH � N.C. State University and The Wolfpack Club have honored
prominent alumnus and longtime Wolfpack supporter Wendell H. Murphy, his
wife Linda, and their family by naming the school's new football operations
facility the Wendell H. Murphy Football Center.
The accolade was announced Friday by Wolfpack Club executive director
Bobby Purcell, who cited the family's role in furthering a long list of NCSU
causes.
"Wendell Murphy, and the Murphy family have meant more to NC State and
the Wolfpack Club than any volume of words can adequately express," said
Purcell. "Throughout the years, Wendell has been a proven leader for N.C.
State. His support has allowed us to build one of the finest universities,
athletics departments, and financial aid organizations in the nation."
A bust of Murphy, along with a plaque honoring the Murphy family, will be
placed in the Hall of Champions area of the facility, which is situated at
the south end of Carter-Finley Stadium.
Murphy is a member of the Centennial Authority, which led the development
of the RBC Center, home to the Wolfpack's men's basketball team. The
project, which would be funded partially by the N.C. legislature, was
conceived by Murphy in 1987, a time during which he served in the state
senate.
The Murphy Football Center is a 103,000 square foot all-purpose
operations center for the Wolfpack football program.
A native of Rose Hill, where he still resides with his wife, Linda, Murphy
received his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education from N.C.
State in 1960. After graduation, he began his career as a vocational
agriculture teacher.
In 1962, Wendell and his father, Holmes Murphy, opened a custom feed
manufacturing operation which would eventually grow and diversify into a
large agri-business enterprise focusing on raising hogs.
An unmistakable sign that the Murphy clan broadly supports institutions
of higher education and their intercollegiate sports programs is evident 85
miles east of Raleigh. East Carolina University's new strength and
conditioning facility, which opened last fall, was also named The Murphy
Center � in honor of the family of Pete Murphy, Wendell's younger brother.
In January 2000, the family owned business known as Murphy Family Farms
became a part of the Smithfield Foods conglomerate.
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