Bill Jackson Murphy

Bill Jackson
Murphy
December 1, 1925-
July 10, 2014
Columbus, GA- Bill Jackson Murphy passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at his home on July 10, 2014. He was 88 years young. Bill was a retired architect, WWII veteran and an Eagle Scout. Born December 1, 1925 in Gastonia, NC, Bill was the son of Inez Keller Murphy and Claude Jackson Murphy and the oldest boy of 7 children. After graduation from Lowell High School in 1943, he joined the war effort. He had always wanted to fly and enlisted in the army in hopes of joining the army air corps. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the 333rd Airdrome Squadron in Barrackpore, India, supporting the Burma airlift. He received the American Theatre Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Following an honorable discharge from the Army, Bill married Martha (Polly) Sue McFadden on December 17, 1947. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, they moved to Kansas City to study drafting and later to Atlanta to study architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology. From 1951 - 1957, he apprenticed with the firms of Alexander and Rothschild of Atlanta and Firth Lockwood of Columbus. Bill and Polly moved permanently to Columbus in 1957 and founded the architectural firm Brookbank and Murphy, which later became BMS Associates. As the firm grew, Bill finally fulfilled his dream of learning to fly and was an avid private pilot who was multi-engine and instrument rated. He owned several private planes over the years and was an active part of the "airport gang" at the Columbus airport. He celebrated his birthday every year by going up for a flight around the "patch".
Bill's architectural style was influenced by the modern International Style of the 1920's and '30's as well as the Prarie School movement. His first major work was the old Martinique Motel in downtown Columbus. A large portion of the firm's business was designing movie theaters. Working with Martin Theaters, Fuqua, United Artists, Carmike Cinema and Southern Theaters, he designed single, twin and multi-plex theaters that can be found extensively across the southeast, and Texas. In 1976, BMS Associates purchased the old freight train depot on Front Avenue, restoring and converting it to their offices. BMS Associates was recognized by UpTown Columbus for their contributions to the redevelopment of the downtown area. Other highlights of his long career include the revamping of Silver Springs Nature Park in Ocala, Florida, significant residences in Columbus and Jacksonville, FL, and the headquarters of Carmike Cinema, Inc.
Married nearly 60 years, Bill and Polly traveled extensively for both business and pleasure. A child of the depression, he was a self-made man who lived life on his own terms. He valued hard work, entrepreneurship, ingenuity and art and never stopped working, creating or inventing, even into his later years. He was a supporter of The Columbus Museum, the Springer Opera House and the Valley Rescue Mission.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Keller Murphy Torrey (& Sam) and Patricia T Murphy (& Pat McLaughlin), grandchildren Andrew William Robinson, Laura Katherine Robinson, William Ford Torrey, IV and Keller Thompson Torrey. He is also survived by a sister, Eloise Murphy Kettmer, brothers Frank Murphy and Jimmy Murphy and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife Martha (Polly) McFadden Murphy, sister Elizabeth "Lib" Murphy Bethune and brothers Joe Murphy and Jack Murphy.
A service celebrating his life and legacy will be held at 11:00 am July 19, 2014 in the chapel at First Presbyterian Church 1100 1st Ave, Columbus, GA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Columbus Museum or the Valley Rescue Mission.