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Bradford man retires from Piqua Daily Call
When Glen Murphy started working in the newspaper business, Dwight "I Like Ike" Eisenhower resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., "Happy Days" was a way of life, not an old TV sitcom and young people were either wiggling their hips with a hula-hoop or to the rock music of new sensation Elvis Presley.
A lot of things have changed since his first day on the job, May 31, 1958, and come today, there will be another change - Murphy will leave the Piqua Daily Call for the final time.
Murphy, 70, of Bradford, who works in the prepress department at the Daily Call, is wrapping up a nearly 50-year career in the newspaper business.
Murphy joined the Daily Call at the age of 21, after working a year as a sander for a Dayton stone company.
Deaf since birth, Murphy learned to operate a printing press at the Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus.
"I was taught this because presses were so loud back then - ideal job for a deaf man," Murphy said.
After first working as a pressman, Murphy later worked in the paste-up and production departments at the Daily Call.
He left the Call in 1966 to go to work at the Greenville Advocate. He remained at the Advocate until 1995 when he was transferred back to the Daily Call.
Murphy said his deafness hasn't been a major problem in the workplace.
"I managed just fine - I am able to read lips and we communicate with paper and pencil," he said. "People were willing to work with me and we managed just fine. I thank them for that."
The working relationship between the deaf and the hearing has been a two-way street at the Daily Call, according to Don King, production manager.
"We've all had our horizons broadened with his handling of his handicap," King said. "He's been a super employee. He's very conscientious and he's always there."
Daily Call Sports Editor Rob Kiser recalled one early morning as a new sports writer at the Greenville Advocate when Murphy helped him out.
"My car broke down on my way to work in New Harrison and I was walking to work (about five miles away) when he stopped and gave me a ride," Kiser said. "That was the time before cellphones and you couldn't call someone to come get you."
Murphy and two siblings, Ida May (Murphy) Martin and Ivan Murphy also are deaf, but three other siblings - Alan Murphy, Dale Murphy and Rachel Draving, all deceased - were born with hearing.
He grew up in the Bradford area and he still lives there.
Over the years there have been many changes in the newspaper business, he said. When he started at the Daily Call, linotype machines were used to set type in hot lead and papers were printed on letter presses.
"The press was loud and messy, my clothes were soiled in ink," he recalled. Offset presses were introduced more than 30 years ago, reducing noise and ink mess.
Murphy met his wife, Mary, while they attended the school for the deaf. They will celebrate their 47th anniversary on June 25.
The Murphys have two sons, Barry, the owner of Riverbend Construction in Covington and Steve, who lives in Bradford. Their daughters are Angie (Murphy) Byers of Greenville and April (Murphy) Brubaker of Bradford. They also have six grandchildren.
The children are proud of their father and the way he has handled his disability.
"He has taught us that just because he had a disability, he was still able to work and provide for his family," said April (Murphy) Brubaker. "He did not let this obstacle stop him from succeeding. He taught us that having the right attitude about work is important and that being committed is just as important."
Murphy has a busy retirement planned. Among his activities will be traveling with his wife, fishing, playing golf and spending time with his friends and family.
He's also an active member of the Columbus Senior Citizens for the Deaf, Dayton Senior Citizens for the Deaf and the Dayton Deaf Club. He also plans to attend his 50th reunion of the Ohio School for the Deaf.
Among Murphy's other interests are following the exploits of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cincinnati Reds and The Ohio State Buckeyes.
"I'm a true Ohioan," he said.
"I can honestly say that I loved my job, I enjoyed working at the Daily Call for many years," he said. "I have met many good people who treated me with respect and have made many friends over the years."
When Glen Murphy started working in the newspaper business, Dwight "I Like Ike" Eisenhower resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., "Happy Days" was a way of life, not an old TV sitcom and young people were either wiggling their hips with a hula-hoop or to the rock music of new sensation Elvis Presley.
A lot of things have changed since his first day on the job, May 31, 1958, and come today, there will be another change - Murphy will leave the Piqua Daily Call for the final time.
Murphy, 70, of Bradford, who works in the prepress department at the Daily Call, is wrapping up a nearly 50-year career in the newspaper business.
Murphy joined the Daily Call at the age of 21, after working a year as a sander for a Dayton stone company.
Deaf since birth, Murphy learned to operate a printing press at the Ohio School for the Deaf in Columbus.
"I was taught this because presses were so loud back then - ideal job for a deaf man," Murphy said.
After first working as a pressman, Murphy later worked in the paste-up and production departments at the Daily Call.
He left the Call in 1966 to go to work at the Greenville Advocate. He remained at the Advocate until 1995 when he was transferred back to the Daily Call.
Murphy said his deafness hasn't been a major problem in the workplace.
"I managed just fine - I am able to read lips and we communicate with paper and pencil," he said. "People were willing to work with me and we managed just fine. I thank them for that."
The working relationship between the deaf and the hearing has been a two-way street at the Daily Call, according to Don King, production manager.
"We've all had our horizons broadened with his handling of his handicap," King said. "He's been a super employee. He's very conscientious and he's always there."
Daily Call Sports Editor Rob Kiser recalled one early morning as a new sports writer at the Greenville Advocate when Murphy helped him out.
"My car broke down on my way to work in New Harrison and I was walking to work (about five miles away) when he stopped and gave me a ride," Kiser said. "That was the time before cellphones and you couldn't call someone to come get you."
Murphy and two siblings, Ida May (Murphy) Martin and Ivan Murphy also are deaf, but three other siblings - Alan Murphy, Dale Murphy and Rachel Draving, all deceased - were born with hearing.
He grew up in the Bradford area and he still lives there.
Over the years there have been many changes in the newspaper business, he said. When he started at the Daily Call, linotype machines were used to set type in hot lead and papers were printed on letter presses.
"The press was loud and messy, my clothes were soiled in ink," he recalled. Offset presses were introduced more than 30 years ago, reducing noise and ink mess.
Murphy met his wife, Mary, while they attended the school for the deaf. They will celebrate their 47th anniversary on June 25.
The Murphys have two sons, Barry, the owner of Riverbend Construction in Covington and Steve, who lives in Bradford. Their daughters are Angie (Murphy) Byers of Greenville and April (Murphy) Brubaker of Bradford. They also have six grandchildren.
The children are proud of their father and the way he has handled his disability.
"He has taught us that just because he had a disability, he was still able to work and provide for his family," said April (Murphy) Brubaker. "He did not let this obstacle stop him from succeeding. He taught us that having the right attitude about work is important and that being committed is just as important."
Murphy has a busy retirement planned. Among his activities will be traveling with his wife, fishing, playing golf and spending time with his friends and family.
He's also an active member of the Columbus Senior Citizens for the Deaf, Dayton Senior Citizens for the Deaf and the Dayton Deaf Club. He also plans to attend his 50th reunion of the Ohio School for the Deaf.
Among Murphy's other interests are following the exploits of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Cincinnati Reds and The Ohio State Buckeyes.
"I'm a true Ohioan," he said.
"I can honestly say that I loved my job, I enjoyed working at the Daily Call for many years," he said. "I have met many good people who treated me with respect and have made many friends over the years."