James W. Murphy, who had the distinction of being the longest-serving sheriff in St. Louis and was also recognized for his prowess on the soccer field, passed away at the age of 88, his tenure in law enforcement stretched from 1988 to 2016 during which he saw the sheriff's office managing prisoner transportation and courthouse security, as reported by St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
His career before law enforcement was equally notable, serving as a Missouri state senator and participating actively in local soccer, where he left an indelible mark as part of the St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, a dominant force in the 1950s that went on to represent the USA in the 1958 World Cup qualifying matches, Murphy’s scoring during one of the games was a testament to his athletic prowess and like his political and law enforcement career, this too was chronicled by the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame which he was a part of according to a tribute from KSDK.
Aside from his public duties, Murphy was deeply rooted in the community, a Democratic committeeman in St. Louis’ 12th Ward for decades and with a political journey that also included two elections to the Missouri Senate representing the 1st District; his local ethos embodied by a statement from St. Louis' longtime revenue collector Gregory F.X. Daly, who said to St. Louis Public Radio, "You hear the old saying that everything is local. He was a firm believer in that." Murphy's readiness to help those around him and dedication to public service forged the legacy that followed his death.
Murphy is survived by his wife Marilyn of 65 years and was a father to five children, his family has announced that a visitation will be held tomorrow from 3 to 8 p.m. at Kutis Affton Chapel, and the funeral Mass scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, this was disclosed by an online obituary which also mentioned that in lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Diabetes Association are appreciated.
