Reg Murphy, a renowned journalist whose newsgathering career included stints as an editor and top executive at newspapers in Atlanta, San Francisco and Baltimore — and who found himself the subject of national headlines when he survived a politically motivated kidnapping — has died at age 90.
Murphy, who lived on St. Simons Island, Georgia, died on Nov. 9.
John Reginald “Reg” Murphy was a Georgia native who early in his career covered state politics for the Macon Telegraph. He then worked as a reporter and editor at The Atlanta Constitution amid the civil rights movement. Murphy became editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner in 1975, then went on to serve as publisher at the Baltimore Sun.
As an editor, Murphy was inspiring, said Art Harris, a reporter at The Constitution who later followed Murphy to San Francisco, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. “That was his magic. He inspired people by building them up. He was a gentleman and a gentle persuader. I never heard him raise his voice. Not everyone liked his decisions, but he didn’t let that dissuade him from making them.”
Murphy later served in senior leadership roles at the National Geographic Society, where he helped introduce new media technologies expanding the global reach and impact of its print and video platforms.
His reporting career took him across the globe, including to Russia, China, Japan and the Middle East, Mercer University noted in a 2023 article about Murphy, who attended classes there in the 1950s. In the U.S., Murphy stressed journalism's importance for the health of the country and communities.
“Journalism is, in my mind, sacred,” he said in an interview last year for Mercer University. “It is a sacred trust to tell the truth and to try to give people enough freedom to be able to find the truth and then to pursue it.”
During his time as editorial page editor at The Atlanta Constitution, Murphy became the focus of a gripping story in 1974, when he was kidnapped and held for a $700,000 ransom. The kidnapper claimed to be part of a militia group wanting to stop “the lying of leftist newspapers.”
Two days later, Murphy was released in a motel parking lot after the ransom was paid. Within hours of his release, his abductor was arrested at his home and the money was recovered. The man was later convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison but ultimately served nine.
Murphy continued his long and successful career in journalism. Years later, Murphy gave a firsthand account of that harrowing experience in Golf Digest. It began when a man claiming he needed help donating 300,000 gallons of heating oil persuaded Murphy to ride with him to his lawyer’s office to sign papers. Murphy recounted what happened once he became suspicious.
“He was steering with his right hand, and with his left he leaned a handgun across his forearm, looked over, and said, ‘Mr. Murphy, you’ve been kidnapped,’ Murphy wrote. ”He tossed a roll of white adhesive tape onto my lap and told me to cover my eyes. With the gun pointing at me, I did as I was told and applied three strips from temple to temple."
A few minutes later, the car stopped and the kidnapper used rope to tie his wrists behind his back and then his ankles, Murphy wrote. Still blindfolded, Murphy was told to get in the trunk.
“When I was in the trunk, he tied my wrists to my ankles behind me so that my body formed a reverse-C,” he wrote. “This was very uncomfortable for my back. The trunk was shallow -- if I moved my head up even a few inches it hit the roof. I was breathing fast, but I was also trying to control my breath, trying not to panic.”
They drove for hours until he was led into a building, Murphy recounted. Before being shoved between a bed and the wall, he was allowed to speak on the phone to another editor at The Constitution, informing him he'd been kidnapped. It became national news, coming soon after Patty Hearst, the granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped by a far-left militant group.
Murphy said he lost 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) during the ordeal and suffered claustrophobia from the hours spent in the trunk. During his captivity, he replayed in his mind rounds of golf he had shot.
Two months later, Murphy said he was on a golf course at a charity event. On almost every hole spectators from the gallery asked for his autograph or to pose for a photo, he recalled. His passion for golf provided a therapeutic release from the kidnapping, his obituary said.
Murphy became an active volunteer with the sport’s governing body, the United States Golf Association, and served as its president in 1994 and 1995.
“Like so many USGA presidents before him, and since, Reg gave his time and expertise to help leave the game of golf even better,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “The USGA, and the people who play and love the game of golf, are better off because of Reg’s commitment, passion and leadership.”
Murphy was the son of Mae and John Lee Murphy, a schoolteacher and a store owner. He remained a strong supporter of Mercer, describing the school as “a place where I learned something about the who, what, where, why and how of journalism.” He served five terms on the Mercer Board of Trustees, his obituary said. Mercer honored his achievements by renaming its Center for Collaborative Journalism as the Reg Murphy Center for Collaborative Journalism.
This photo provided by the USGA shows Reg Murphy, of Caves Valley, Md., a Past President of the United States Golf Association. Murphy served as President of the USGA from 1994-95. (USGA via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the Toronto Argonauts to their record-extending 19th Grey Cup title, throwing two second-half touchdown passes in a 41-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday night at B.C. Place.
Forced into action after starter Chad Kelly broke his ankle in Toronto's East championship victory over Montreal, Arbuckle completed 26 of 37 passes for 252 yards in Toronto's second Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg in three seasons.
Toronto has won its last eight appearances in the Grey Cup dating to 1991 and is 8-0 against Winnipeg, also beating the Blue Bombers in 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 2022. Winnipeg was appearing in its fifth straight Grey Cup. It won consecutive titles in 2019 and 2021, with the 2000 season canceled.
Arbuckle threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett to give Toronto a 24-16 lead with 7:31 left. On the first play after the kickoff, DaShaun Amos intercepted Zach Collaros' pass and returned it to the Winnipeg 16 to set up Brian Hajrullahu's 14-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining.
Robert Priester iced it with 3:12 left with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wynton McManis then returned another interception 58 yards to the 4, with Ka'Deem Carey scoring on the next play to make it 41-16.
Collaros, the only player to make five straight Grey Cup starts, was 15 of 30 pfor 202 yards and four interceptions. Brady Oliveira, the league’s outstanding player and top Canadian this year, ran for 84 yards and a TD, scoring on a 1-yard run and adding a 2-point conversion in the final minute.
Toronto — which beat Winnipeg in both regular-season meetings — took a 17-10 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on Arbuckle's 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital — a play after Fraser Sopik recovered Lucky Whitehead's fumble on a punt return.
Winnipeg cut it to 17-13 on Sergio Castillo's 40-yard field goal with 2:13 left in the third. The Blue Bombers' Michael Ayers then blocked John Haggerty's punt, but Toronto ended up with a first down because Kyrie Wilson interfered with an Argonauts player while the ball was loose.
The Blue Bombers got the ball back two plays later when Willie Jefferson intercepted Arbuckle's pass and returned it 4 yards to the Toronto 30, setting up Castillo's 23-yard field goal.
Prince Harry made a pregame appearance. The Duke of Sussex is promoting the Invictus Games that will be held in the area in February.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Toronto Argonauts' Robert Priester (19) scores a touchdown after an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with Benjie Franklin (23) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, center right, celebrates with teammate Ka'Deem Carey (25) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Bailey Feltmate (36) and teammate Brady Oliveira (20) sit on the bench after losing the 111th Grey Cup to the Toronto Argonauts, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Daniel Adeboboye (21) lifts the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) lifts the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) scores a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) scores a touchdown as Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nick Taylor (12) looks on during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson (5) strips the ball from Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) during the the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Peter Nicastro (52) recovers a fumble against the Toronto Argonauts during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Deonta McMahon (24) runs against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Benjie Franklin (23) can't make an interception on a pass intended for Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Kenny Lawler (89) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) runs back an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) makes an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) leaps to evade a hit from Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Terrell Bonds (24) and scores a touchdown during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with teammates during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) passes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
