J. Reginald Murphy

John Reginald Murphy (January 7, 1934 – November 9, 2024), usually known as Reg Murphy, was an American publisher and business executive.

J. Reginald Murphy
Born	John Reginald Murphy (1934-01-07)January 7, 1934 Gainesville, Georgia, U.S.
Died	November 9, 2024(2024-11-09) (aged 90) St. Simons Island, Georgia, U.S.
Occupations	Publisher and business executive
Known for	Being kidnapped in 1974

Professional life

Journalism and editing

A native of Gainesville, Georgia and a graduate of Mercer University,^[1] Murphy began his career in journalism with the Macon Telegraph. He became editor of the Atlanta Constitution, editor and publisher of The San Francisco Examiner, and publisher and CEO of The Baltimore Sun.

Murphy was president and CEO of the National Geographic Society from 1996 to 1998.

Golf

From 1994 to 1995, Murphy served as the president of the United States Golf Association.^[2] He authored a biography of Griffin Bell, Uncommon Sense: The Achievement of Griffin Bell.

Academics

In 2012 he served as Executive-in-Residence at the College of Coastal Georgia.^[3]

Kidnapping

Murphy was kidnapped on February 20, 1974, at the age of 40, and was freed two days later after the Atlanta Constitution paid $700,000 ransom.^[2][4]

Murphy was well known for his stance against the Vietnam War, but the motive for the kidnapping is still unknown.^[5] William A. H. Williams was arrested for the crime only six hours after Murphy was released, and all of the money was recovered.^[6]

Williams was convicted and sentenced to 40 years in jail but served only nine; his wife Betty received probation for not reporting her husband to police.^[2][7] Williams claimed to represent a right-wing militia group called The American Revolutionary Army, protesting against "too leftist and too liberal" media outlets and a government which was a “fraud and a murderer on a mass scale”, and sought to have all federal elected officials resign.^[8]

In 2019, contacted by a journalist, Williams apologised for the kidnapping.^[9]

Personal life and death

Murphy had a wife, Diana, and two daughters.^[2] He died in St. Simons Island, Georgia, on November 9, 2024, at the age of 90.^[10]

See also

• List of kidnappings

References

1. Murphy, Reg. "Reflections on Georgia Politics Oral History Collection, ROGP 104 Reg Murphy". Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
2. Murphy, Reg. "Reg Murphy: Golf Eased My Mind: Golf Digest". Gold Digest. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
3. Murphy, Reg. "Reg Murphy to Serve as College's Inaugural Executive-in-Residence". Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
4. Ayres Jr, B. Drummond (1974-02-22). "Atlanta Constitution Editor Kidnapped; 'Revolutionary Army' Seeks $700,000 (Published 1974)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
5. "Atlanta Constitution editor is kidnapped − This Day in History − 2/20/1974". The History Channel. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
6. "Notable U.S. Kidnappings Since 1924". World Almanac Education Group. The History Channel. 2006. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
7. "Editor's Kidnapper, Sobbing, Is. Given 40 Years in Atlanta (Published 1974)". The New York Times. 1974-08-31. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
8. "1974: "The American Revolution Army" demanded that "all federal elected officials resign" and more". Rumor Mill News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
9. Torpy, Bill (Feb 21, 2019). "40 years later, a kidnapper apologizes for holding Atlanta editor captive". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2021-03-01.
10. Shefter, David (11 November 2024). "Past USGA President Reg Murphy Dies at 90". USGA. Retrieved 11 November 2024.