J. Reginald Murphy

John Reginald Murphy (born 1933), usually known as Reg )rhymes with edge) Murphy, is a publisher and business executive. A native of Gainesville, Georgia and a graduate of Mercer University,[1] Murphy began his career in journalism with the Macon Telegraph. He became editor of the Atlanta Constitution, editor and publisher of the San Francisco Examiner, and publisher and CEO of the Baltimore Sun. From 1994-1995, Murphy served as the president of the United States Golf Association.[2] Murphy was president and CEO of the National Geographic Society from 1995-1998. He authored a biography of Griffin Bell, Uncommon Sense: The Achievement of Griffin Bell. In 2012 he served as Executive-in-Residence at the College of Coastal Georgia.[3]

Kidnapping

Murphy was kidnapped on February 20, 1974, at age 40, and was freed two days later after the Atlanta Constitution paid $700,000 ransom.[2] Murphy was well known for his stance against the Vietnam War, but the motive for the kidnapping was baffling at the time.[4] William A. H. Williams was arrested for the crime only six hours after Murphy was released, and all of the money was recovered.[5] Williams was convicted and sentenced to 40 years in jail but served only nine.[2]

While holding Murphy, Williams presented his ransom demands as coming from a right-wing militia group called The American Revolutionary Army, which wanted all federal elected officials to resign.[6] Later, while serving time, he acknowledged that he was acting alone for money, and that the group did not exist. Williams said he got the idea for the crime from the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, which had happened not long before

Family

Murphy has a wife named Diana and two daughters.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Murphy, Reg. "Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 104 Reg Murphy". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Murphy, Reg. "Reg Murphy: Golf Eased My Mind: Golf Digest". Gold Digest. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  3. ↑ Murphy, Reg. "Reg Murphy to Serve as College’s Inaugural Executive-in-Residence". Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "Atlanta Constitution editor is kidnapped - History.com This Day in History - 2/20/1974". History. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Notable U.S. Kidnappings Since 1924". World Almanac Education Group. The History Channel. 2006. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "1974: "The American Revolution Army" demanded that "all federal elected officials resign" and more". Rumor Mill News. Retrieved 25 April 2013.


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