Murphy honored with HerrinFesta 2022 'Lifetime Achievement Award'
HERRIN - Mike Murphy is a household name not only in his hometown of Herrin, but also across southern Illinois. His list of accomplishments is long and varied.
Now he can add one more item to that list.
Murphy is being honored as this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner for HerrinFesta 2022.
Murphy began his radio career at WJPF AM 1340 in 1976 while still a Radio-TV student at SIU. He started sports play-by play doing Herrin Tiger football and basketball, which only seemed right since he played both sports at HHS in the early 70s. He has also done play by play for other High Schools including Carbondale, Murphysboro, Carterville, and Marion.
Murphy has also had the privilege to do play by play for SIU football, basketball and baseball.
Murphy and his longtime broadcast partner Scott Hudson have won three Silver Dome Awards for their work together in the categories of Sports PBP and Best Broadcast Team. Mike is also a former winner of the Merle Jones Journalism Award and a member of the IBCA Basketball Hall of Fame and the Herrin High School Sports Hall of Fame. He also took a turn as GM at then WHPI Radio.
The award-winning Saturday morning sports call-in talk show "Sports Voice" has been around since 1979 and is now heard on five River Radio Stations every Saturday morning from 8 to 10 as well as streaming across the country. SportsVoice also has done countless shows On Location and has become a fixture before SIU home football games.
Murphy can also be heard during basketball season with Paxton Guy on Monday night's "In the Dawghouse" talking SIU Sports and Tuesday night with Talkin' Vols featuring Logan Athletics.
Some of Murphy's broadcasting highlights include SIU Basketball trips to Hawaii, The Great Alaskan Shootout, Las Vegas, and Puerto Rico. Also listed high on the list would be calling the State Championship football games for Zeigler-Royalton and Carterville as well as announcing a second-place finish for his own Herrin Tigers at the State Basketball Finals.
He has not only a radio career but is GM of Custom Tours and Travel in Herrin where he works daily to schedule flight and travel plans for major sports teams throughout the country.
Murphy is also GM of CUSTOM TOURS AND TRAVELS in Herrin, IL the company makes travel arrangements and arranges transportation throughout the country for major sporting teams.
He is a 1974 Herrin High School graduate and a graduate of Southern Illinois University.
Murphy is the son of the late Dr. Jack Murphy and Jessie Murphy, both educators. He has one brother, country music star singer, musician and writer, David Lee Murphy.
Murphy and his wife Angela live in Herrin. He has two children Gavin Murphy and wife Jessica, and a daughter Natalie Murphy, and three grandchildren, Lily, Michael and Luke Murphy.
He will be honored along with the other HerrinFesta Honorees at the Mayor's HerrinFesta Honoree Banquet Tuesday, May 24 at the Herrin Civic Center and lead The Grand Festa Parade, Saturday, May 28 in downtown Herrin.