[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7703]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO SAM MURPHEY FOR A LIFETIME OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE 
                 NATION AND THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHET EDWARDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 26, 2007

  Mr. EDWARDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a dedicated public 
servant of the people of Central Texas, Sam Murphey. Sam is about to 
embark on a well-deserved retirement after 22 years of service in the 
U.S. Army and 16 years looking after the needs of the people of Central 
Texas as my right-hand man and District Director.
  Sam Murphey is a decorated soldier and veteran whose distinguished 
service in the United States Army and his service to the constituents 
of Central Texas is unparalleled in my experience. The positive impact 
Sam has had is immeasurable and proof that one person can truly make a 
difference in the lives of others. Sam is known by many names: husband, 
father, grandfather, motivator, leader, and confidante. I join the many 
others who are fortunate to call him ``friend''.
  Sam graduated from the University of Texas in 1967 earning a 
bachelors degree in business administration and a commission in the 
Regular Army of the United States as a 2nd Lieutenant of Field 
Artillery. Sam later earned his master of science degree in management 
from the University of Central Texas in 1981 and he has completed an 
additional 18 post-graduate hours of study in political science.
  Following his graduation from the University of Texas, Sam began a 
22-year career in the U.S. Army that took him to assignments in the 
United States, Europe, Korea and Vietnam. He spent his combat tour in 
Vietnam as a Field Artillery Forward Observer and Liaison Officer with 
the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Other notable experiences during his 
military career include a teaching assignment in the Gunnery Department 
of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, graduation from the Marine 
Corps Command and Staff College, and an assignment at the U.S. Air 
Force Academy as Air Officer Commanding of Cadet Squadron 29. He 
retired from the Army at Fort Hood, Texas on October 1, 1989.
  In March 1991, as a newly elected Congressman, I was wise enough to 
hire Sam as my primary contact for the military and veterans 
communities in what was then District 11. Sam excelled in that role and 
became the District Director in January 1996. As a local veterans 
leader, his counsel and advice have been indispensable over the years.
  Among many other accomplishments, Sam played a key leadership role in 
the successful fight to save the Waco VA hospital from closure and 
helped make it into a national center of excellence. The massive 
modernization of Fort Hood in the 1990s had Sam Murphey's fingerprints 
all over it. Countless soldiers and their families have benefited from 
Sam's hard work to make dramatic improvements in barracks, housing, and 
training facilities at Fort Hood. Sam was also instrumental in opening 
Gray Army Airfield to commercial aviation, providing land for the 
Central Texas Veterans Cemetery and Tarleton State's upper level 
institution in Killeen.
  As a district director, it goes without saying that Sam is very 
active in local community affairs, but he also spends much of his free 
time to give back to the community. He continues to serve as Vice 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Heart O' Texas Federal Credit 
Union. He is a past president of the University of Central Texas Alumni 
Association, and has taught government and business classes at the 
University of Central Texas and Central Texas College as a member of 
their adjunct faculty. He is a past chairman of the Harker Heights 
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and served 6 years as 
Commissioner on the Harker Heights Planning and Zoning Commission. He 
is a co-founder of the Harker Heights Economic Development Corporation 
and is a past president of the Central Texas--Fort Hood Chapter of the 
Association of the United States Army and of the Central Texas Chapter 
of the Military Officers Association of America. He is a graduate of 
Leadership Temple and Leadership Killeen and is a co-founder of the 
Leadership Belton program. He was recently named Chairman of the Harker 
Heights Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee.
  Sam and his wonderful wife Peggy, his much, much better half, are 
retiring at the same time to enjoy their beautiful family together in 
Harker Heights, Texas. Peggy is retiring after a career of service to 
the soldiers and families at Fort Hood, a place that I had the 
privilege to represent for 14 years and is very close to my heart. The 
Good Lord has blessed Sam and Peggy with two children, Steven and 
Kathleen and five grandchildren, Samantha and Steven Murphey, Hartley, 
Elle and Sophia Corsi.
  May the Good Lord continue to watch over them and as Sam is fond of 
saying, ``bless their little hearts.''
  Thank you, Sam for your personal friendship and for your service to 
the people of Central Texas and the citizens of our Nation. We wish you 
and your family all the best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________