Ray Murphy, Jr.

Ray Murphy, Jr. was an all-American collegiate wrestler at Oklahoma State University. He is the recipient of the 1998 Medal of Courage from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org/awards/?moc&year=1998 The Official web site for National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum ] ]

Early life

Ray Murphy was a high school classmate of actor Gary Busey. [ [http://cache.zoominfo.com/cachedpage/?archive_id=925289627&page_id=782005827&page_url=%2f%2fwww.nathanhalealumni.org%2fnews.htm&page_last_updated=1%2f27%2f2006+11%3a01%3a14+AM&firstName=Ray&lastName=Murphy ZoomInfo Cached Page ] ]

Collegiate wrestling career

Murphy's collegiate wrestling career included two appearances in the NCAA national tournament in 1968 and 1969 with the OSU Cowboys. He placed fifth in the 137 pound weight class and second in the 145 pound weight class, [http://www.wrestlingstats.com/ncaa/pdf/brackets/NCAA%201968.pdf] [http://www.wrestlingstats.com/ncaa/pdf/brackets/NCAA%201969.pdf] respectively. He was hopeful to compete in the 1972 Olympics.

Life-changing injury

On April 11, 1970, Ray Murphy’s life changed forever while wrestling for the OSU Cowboys. Murphy was thrown during a match and landed directly on his head, paralyzing him from the neck down.

Since that day, Ray has been gripped by paralysis and still requires mechanical assistance in breathing. Ray Murphy has been actively involved in the development of sip-and-puff technology--a method where a person can sip and puff in a straw in code to send commands to mechanical devices. [http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/resources/custapps/app_medical_sip_puff_device.asp] In Ray Murphy's case, he can use sip-and-puff technology to adjust lights in a room, change channels on a television, type on a keyboard, and control his wheelchair.

Because of the importance of sip-and-puff technology, which Ray uses to operate his computer and other amenities, he has become a national leader in research of new additions to this technique. He also has been employed as a computer programmer by ConocoPhillips and other corporations to advance this and other handicapped-assisting technologies.

Other awards

Murphy also won the National Outstanding Handicap award for his determination and work as a quadriplegic. [ [http://www.ocolly.com/read_story.php?a_id=28091 The Daily O’Collegian » Summer staff ] ] . In 1989, he received national recognition as Handicapped Person of the Year.

Notes