Bob Polkinghorn, '66 informs us that Dave died in August 2022 "or thereabouts". Dave had lived in Costa Mesa, CA for many years.
There will be much to say about this outstanding gentleman in the days and weeks to come. He may have been the first Lancer to attract statewide and national attention to Sunny Hills in 1966, as a leading high school shot putter.
An aching loss. We all remember Dave.
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See also
FIND YOUR CLASS (on menu)
'66
Dave Murphy retires
I don't see the quartet or quintet Dave sang with, The Fugowies, on the Internet. They used to have half a dozen videos, and sang regularly at a Huntington Beach restaurant and around Orange and neighboring counties. They were 4 or 5 men with acoustic guitars and they sat on stools to sing middle of the road ballads, folk songs and some pop standards. Dave was the lead singer, and had a baritone voice and manner comparable to Gordon Lightfoot. No less than legendary Orange County singer, drummer and bandleader Butch Rillera saw Dave sing at Bourbon Street in Downtown Fullerton around 2010 and praised him as having the finest voice he heard there (on Facebook). Butch was the musical director of The Righteous Brothers for many years and earlier led a 1960s band (among others) called The Mustangs that played TomorrowLand at Disneyland and featured Larry Loeck, '64 on guitar.
From a Fullerton College (formerly FJC) Hall of Fame website:
DAVE MURPHY (Track & Field Athlete 1966-1968) - Local student-athlete Dave Murphy graduated from Sunny Hills high School in 1966 where he was already recognized as a Scholastic Coach All-American Shotputter. Murphy had the third longest throw of all time in the United States with a twelve-pound shot locking down a record of 67'2". He also set the California high school state record with a sixteen-pound shot at 57'10.1/4", a record that remained unbroken for fifty-one years.
After his days at Sunny Hills, Murphy went on to attend Fullerton College where he was coached by FC Hall of Famer Dr. Robert Ward. It did not take long for Dave to make a name for himself as a college freshman as he beat out the competition becoming the State Champion in the Shotput. Murphy remained active during his sophomore year setting the school Shotput record at 60'1.1/4", a feat that has yet to be surpassed. Dave also became the Student Commissioner of Athletics. He was responsible for organizing all of the intramural sports on campus. In the spring of 1968, Murphy was honored as a "Man of Distinction", one of the college's highest awards.
Graduating from Fullerton College, Murphy accepted a full athletic scholarship to USC. During his time with the Trojans, Dave was the 1970 Pacific Conference Shotput Champion and a second place finisher in the Discus. In addition, he placed second in the NCAA Shotput finals and sixth in the Discus. This earned Murphy All-American honors for both events. He was later offered a spot on the University Games team.
Upon graduating from USC, Dave retired from competition choosing to work with youths coaching track & field and teaching for the Orange County Department of Education for 24 years.
Now retired from teaching, Murphy lives in the Orange County area and now plays and sings guitar professionally. He has three beautiful grown children (Logan, Madison, and Mason), and one handsome grandson (Slater). Dave still has a deep love for sports, exercise, and music.
NOTE: The USC Track and Field team Dave belonged to won 2 NCAA National Championships and included sprinter and 400x4 relay team member O.J. Simpson.
