Blair Johnson, a regular attendee of the Theodore Roosevelt Symposium at Dickinson State University (DSU), returned this year both to immerse himself in Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy and revisit his family's connection to DSU. His grandfather, Harold Murphy, known to his friends as "Murph," was a long-time professor and influential figure at DSU.
Born in Waterloo, Wisconsin, in 1901, Harold Murphy joined the teaching faculty at Dickinson State Teachers College in 1927. During his nearly four-decade career, he taught subjects ranging from chemistry to agriculture, while also serving as an assistant football coach under his close friend, head football coach Harry Weinbergen. Their friendship is immortalized by the campus buildings named after them: Murphy Hall and Weinbergen Hall.
Murphy Hall was erected in 1963 and named in his honor shortly thereafter. Johnson, who resides in Denver, toured the DSU campus and paused for a photo in front of the building that bears his grandfather’s name. He shared memories of his grandfather, explaining that Murphy helped plan the hall and felt fortunate to teach in it for three years before retiring.
Johnson fondly recalled stories like fishing trips with his family at Camel Hump, adventures in the Badlands, and excursions to the Theodore Roosevelt Symposium with his mother, Elise Murphy-Rowe. Elise, a DSU alumna, instilled in Johnson a lifelong connection to both the land and the university. Now 94, Elise is no longer able to attend the symposium, but her impact continues through her son's annual visits.
"Walking through campus is like a walk through history. The buildings bring back memories of my grandfather and the work he did here," Johnson reflected.
LINK to archived photo: https://dsuarchive.com/items/show/28
By: Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership | School of Business and Entrepreneurship Dickinson State University