Henry Bruce Murphy Jr., of Hot Springs died Monday, July 1, 2003. He was born in Hot Springs, February 9, 1931 and was a Roman Catholic. Bruce was a graduate of Hot Springs High School in 1948 and was president of the Delta Sigma social fraternity and was also a graduate from the University of Arkansas where he was president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter. From 1952 to 1972 he served continuously in the Regular Army, retiring in the permanent grade of Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career he graduated from the Command and General Staff College and served overseas in France, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. While in the Vietnam War he was an infantry battalion commander in the 25th Infantry Division during the heavy fighting of the 1968 Tet Offensive. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Combat Infantry Badge. After leaving military service he lived in Florida from 1972 to 1981 and was president of The Murphy Agency, Inc., an insurance and Real Estate Corporation with offices in St. Petersburg and Brooksville, Florida. He returned to Arkansas in 1982. He was owner of Murphy Farms, a plant nursery and a member of the Arkansas Nurseryman’s Association. He attained the Arkansas Certified Nurseryman designation. He was the president of Arkansas Land Sales, Ltd., and owner of Bruce Murphy Travel. Active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternal matters, he was the recipient of the fraternity’s Merit Key Award and Order of the Lion. He was the first president of the Arkansas Area, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Alumni Association, Inc. In 1991 he was designated it’s “Outstanding Living Alumni Member.” On June 23, 2001, he was awarded the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at its International Convention in Orlando. He was the 108th SAE to receive this honor in the entire history of SAE since it’s founding in 1856. On April 7., 2002 he was inducted into the University of Arkansas “ Greek Hall of Fame,” one of the first five persons to receive that honor. He served as the Grand Dragon of “The Royal Order of the Anus de Equus Caballes” for more that twenty years. He was preceded in death by Shirley Collier Murphy, his wife of 35 years. His memory will be cherished by his wife, Barbara Lindner Murphy; a daughter, Patricia Ann Silvey of Crystal River of Florida; two sons, Michael Bruce Murphy of Geneva, Florida and Dr. Joseph S. Murphy of Little Rock; and four grandchildren, Christopher Michael Silvey, Patrick Henry Murphy, Brittany Michelle Murphy, and Chelsea Michelle Murphy; one great grandchild, Carson Silvey and two step daughters and six step grandchildren; and a host of family and friends. In lieu of Flowers, donations are suggested to: Sigma Alpha Epsilon Foundation, Bruce Murphy Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1856, Evanston, IL, 60204. Bruce lived his life for Family, Friends, Fraternity, God, and Country. He lived everyday with integrity, humility, honesty, and zeal. Bruce was a True Gentleman! There will be a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth, 5800 West 12th Street, Little Rock, 661-9111. The burial service, with full military honors, will be held in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 18th. To sign the online guestbook, visit www.griffinleggett.com. The Sentinel-Record (Hot Springs, Arkansas) July 4, 2003 page 23. Murphy

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