Murlan J. Murphy
Encyclopedia
Murlan Jeremiah "Jerry" Murphy, Sr. (1918 - 2009) was an American Businessman
who ran several chemical-related companies in Cleveland, Ohio
. Chief among the companies was Murphy-Phoenix Company, makers of Murphy Oil Soap
, which was later sold to Colgate-Palmolive
.
, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio
. He was named after his father, whose unusual first name was the combination of his parents' (Jerry's grandparent's) surnames of Murphy and Whelan, while his middle name came from grandfather Jeremiah T. Murphy. He also had a brother, Lawrence, and a sister, Rita Jane.
He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland in 1936. He later graduated from what is now known as Case Institute of Technology
bachelor's degree
in chemical engineering
. He was a brother in the Sigma Nu Fraternity
.
was first marketed in 1910 (approx.) by Mr. Murphy's father, who was also Murlan J. Murphy and was president of the Murphy-Phoenix Company, which was founded in 1890 by Mr. Murphy's grandfather, Jeremiah T. Murphy. The original business of Murphy-Phoenix was Industrial Specialty Chemicals, especially lubricants.
In the early 1970s Mr. Murphy was joined in the business by his five children, Jerry, Ray, Paul, Rita, and Brian, who together managed the growth of Murphy's Oil Soap into a leading consumer brand. In 1991, the Murphy-Phoenix Company was acquired by Colgate Palmolive Company. Subsequent to this transaction, two businesses were formed to continue the industrial chemical product lines. These are JTM Products, Solon, Ohio
, and CheMasters, Madison, Ohio
. Both companies are owned by members of the Murphy family.
Mr. Murphy has been a generous supporter of many not for profit
institutions, primarily in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Foremost among these is his alma mater
, St. Ignatius High School, where he donated a gymnasium, a chapel, and a science building, and added to the endowment.
Mr. Murphy and his wife, Margaret (née Scanlan, of Lorain, Ohio
) had five children, seventeen grandchildren, and (as of 1/14/08) four great grandchildren.
At age 90, Murphy died on April 18, 2009 at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio.
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
who ran several chemical-related companies in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. Chief among the companies was Murphy-Phoenix Company, makers of Murphy Oil Soap
Murphy Oil Soap
Murphy's Oil Soap is a cleaning product marketed by Colgate-Palmolive. It was originally invented by Murphy-Phoenix Company, later became Colgate-Palmolive's subsidy in 1991 . It is available in a concentrated liquid form which is then mixed with water, as well as pre-diluted form which comes in a...
, which was later sold to Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products . Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of...
.
Early life
Murphy was born on June 27, 1918, in Cleveland HeightsCleveland Heights, Ohio
Cleveland Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The city's population was 46,121 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Cleveland Heights is located at ....
, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He was named after his father, whose unusual first name was the combination of his parents' (Jerry's grandparent's) surnames of Murphy and Whelan, while his middle name came from grandfather Jeremiah T. Murphy. He also had a brother, Lawrence, and a sister, Rita Jane.
He graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland in 1936. He later graduated from what is now known as Case Institute of Technology
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
. He was a brother in the Sigma Nu Fraternity
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
.
Career
Murphy Oil SoapMurphy Oil Soap
Murphy's Oil Soap is a cleaning product marketed by Colgate-Palmolive. It was originally invented by Murphy-Phoenix Company, later became Colgate-Palmolive's subsidy in 1991 . It is available in a concentrated liquid form which is then mixed with water, as well as pre-diluted form which comes in a...
was first marketed in 1910 (approx.) by Mr. Murphy's father, who was also Murlan J. Murphy and was president of the Murphy-Phoenix Company, which was founded in 1890 by Mr. Murphy's grandfather, Jeremiah T. Murphy. The original business of Murphy-Phoenix was Industrial Specialty Chemicals, especially lubricants.
In the early 1970s Mr. Murphy was joined in the business by his five children, Jerry, Ray, Paul, Rita, and Brian, who together managed the growth of Murphy's Oil Soap into a leading consumer brand. In 1991, the Murphy-Phoenix Company was acquired by Colgate Palmolive Company. Subsequent to this transaction, two businesses were formed to continue the industrial chemical product lines. These are JTM Products, Solon, Ohio
Solon, Ohio
Solon is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and is an affluent suburb of Cleveland in the Northeast Ohio Region, the 14th largest Combined Statistical Area in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 23,348...
, and CheMasters, Madison, Ohio
Madison, Ohio
Madison is a village in Lake County, Ohio, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 2,921.-Geography:Madison is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
. Both companies are owned by members of the Murphy family.
Mr. Murphy has been a generous supporter of many not for profit
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
institutions, primarily in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Foremost among these is his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, St. Ignatius High School, where he donated a gymnasium, a chapel, and a science building, and added to the endowment.
Mr. Murphy and his wife, Margaret (née Scanlan, of Lorain, Ohio
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
) had five children, seventeen grandchildren, and (as of 1/14/08) four great grandchildren.
At age 90, Murphy died on April 18, 2009 at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio.