 Who Was Eugene Murphy?
Eugene W. Murphy was a nationally
known trucking company executive; a state college regent;
and a civic leader in La Crosse. He was chairman of the
Gateway Transportation Company from 1933 until January
1981 when the company was sold. He served on the Wisconsin
State College Board of Regents, now the University of
Wisconsin System Board of Regents, from 1951 to 1973. He
was President of the Board from 1966-1969.
The Eugene W. Murphy Library was
dedicated on June 12, 1969 and so named in recognition for
his years of service to the University and the Wisconsin
State University System.
Murphy was also instrumental in
getting North Hall, now W. Carl Wimberly Hall, built on
the UW-L campus in the early 1970s. Former UW-L Chancellor
Kenneth Lindner credited Murphy’s support for the building
and assuring its construction despite opposition from
state officials.
Eugene Murphy was also a trustee, and
president for several years, of the St. Francis Medical
Center Advisory Board; a director of the Wisconsin
Historical Society; and was elected Man of the Year by the
Greater La Crosse Chamber of Commerce in 1960. Mr. Murphy
died on March 5, 1987 at the age of 85. | 
