Biography

06/17/1927 -

Austin John Murphy, Jr. (D46) Greene, Washington (Part) Counties 1971-1972 (D46) Greene, Fayette (Part), Washington (Part) Counties 1973-1977

Early Life:

Austin John Murphy, Jr., born June 17, 1927, North Charleroi, Washington County, Pennsylvania; son of Austin J. and Evelyn Spence Murphy; public elementary schools of New London, Connecticut; Charleroi High School; Duquesne University, B.A., 1948; University of Pittsburgh, LL.B., 1952; staff member, University of Pittsburgh Law Review; private, 1st class, United States Marine Corps, World War II, 1944-1946, United States Marine Corps Reserves, 1948-1951; attorney; commenced law practice, Washington, Pennsylvania; auditor, Monongahela; elected, council, Monongahela; solicitor, Monongahela; elected, school board, Monongahela; Assistant District Attorney, Washington County, 1956-1957; member, Washington County Democratic Executive Committee; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1959-1971, not a candidate for reelection, 1970; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1971-January 4, 1977; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1969-1976; chair, Local Government Commission, 1975-1976; appointed, Pennsylvania Commission on Interstate Cooperation, 1971-1976; elected, United States Congress, 1977-1995; elected, delegate, Democratic National Convention, 1984, 1988.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Auditor, Monongahela; elected, council, Monongahela; solicitor, Monongahela; elected, school board, Monongahela.

Member, Washington County Democratic Executive Committee.

Assistant District Attorney, Washington County, 1956-1957.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1959-1971, not a candidate for reelection, 1970.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 46th district, Greene, Washington (Part) Counties, 1971-1972; Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 46th district, Greene, Fayette (Part), Washington (Part) Counties 1973- resigned, January 4, 1977; appointed, Local Government Commission, 1969-1976; chair, Local Government Commission, 1975-1976; appointed, Pennsylvania Commission on Interstate Cooperation, 1971-1976.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, 95th, 96th, 97th, 98th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd Congresses, 1977-1995; reprimanded, United States House of Representatives, December 18, 1987, ghost voting and improper use of official resources; not a candidate for reelection, One Hundred Fourth Congress, 1994.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "M"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.