Published July 9, 2024
CAPTION: Members of the Murphy family pose with ULM President Ron Berry and scholarship recipient
Joy Falohan.
MONROE, LA –The Murphy Family donated $60,000 to the ULM College of Pharmacy to establish the T.D. “Doc” Murphy Superior Graduate Scholarship in Pharmacy in honor of Thomas
Deckle Murphy, Class of 1962. The Louisiana Board of Regents Sponsored Programs Support Fund awarded $40,000 in matching funds, making the total value $100,000. A check presentation
was held at the ULM College of Pharmacy on July 3, 2024.
Tom Deckle Murphy was born in the woods of Winn Parish to a Dr. Deckle, whom he was named after. He grew up working in Scroggins Pharmacy in Jonesboro,
La., which confirmed his future career choice. After graduating in Pharmacy in 1962 from
then Northeast Louisiana State College, Murphy went on to purchase two pharmacies, but never Scroggins Pharmacy, where he grew up. His son Shawn recounts,
“to a lot of people, he was their doctor.” Murphy retired at age 35, and “lived three
lifetimes” before his untimely passing at age 48.
“I believe he is incredibly deserving of this recognitionbecause he was in one of the first few classes to graduate in Pharmacy and worked
to pay for school with no student loans! This is important to my family, but most
important to show that ordinary people can come together to do extraordinary things,”
son, Shawn Murphy relayed.
In attendance were Doc’s wife, Martha Ann Murphy; children Shawn Murphy, BA ’84 and
wife, Donna K. Murphy, BS Pharmacy ’90, Tom W. Murphy, BS Construction Management
‘84 and wife, Nancy Murphy, Shana Murphy Prejean, BS Pharmacy ’88, and Tiffany Murphy
Yost.
This scholarship supports third- and fourth-year professional students who are pursuing
the Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Recipients must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher. The first recipient, Joy Falohan, an international Pharmacy student from Nigeria, was able to meet the Murphy Family.
T.D. "Doc" Murphy. Photo courtesy of the Murphy family.
