Thomas A. Murphy

Thomas A. Murphy, who was General Motors Corp. ' s chairman and CEO as the company shifted to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars in the 1970s, died Wednesday in Boynton Beach, Fla., the automaker announced. He was 90.

Mr. Murphy died of natural causes at a hospital, GM spokesman Brian Akre said.

Mr. Murphy was named chairman and CEO on Dec. 1, 1974, and led the world ' s largest automaker until his retirement as chairman on Jan. 1, 1981.

His tenure began a year after the Arab oil embargo led to a sudden shift in demand for small, fuel-efficient cars in the United States. That led to a radical downsizing of the next generation of GM cars and a large-scale shift to front-wheel-drive powertrains.

GM reached its sales record in the United States of nearly 7.1 million cars and trucks in 1978, with Mr. Murphy at the helm.

" The entire GM family mourns the passing of Tom Murphy, " GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner said in a statement. " He was one of the great leaders in GM history, guiding the company to outstanding business results as it addressed major challenges, such as the oil crises of the 1970s. "

Mr. Murphy served as a GM director until May 1988.

He was born Dec. 10, 1915, in Hornell, N.Y., and attended Leo High School in Chicago. He earned an accounting degree at the University of Illinois and joined GM in 1938 as a clerk on the comptroller ' s staff in Detroit.

Mr. Murphy served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946. He rejoined GM and held several accounting and financial-analysis positions before being appointed an assistant treasurer in 1959. He was elected comptroller in 1967 and treasurer a year later. Mr. Murphy was elected vice chairman in 1972.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 65 years, Catherine Rita " Sis " Murphy; daughters, Catherine A. Murphy and Maureen M. Fay; son, Thomas A. Murphy Jr.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.