8th UPDATE

Flags Will Fly At Half-Staff For Murphy

Posting History:
8th Update at 5 p.m. adds funeral details. New material Highlighted
7th Update at 11:46 a.m. adds detail of memorial service.
6th Update at 10:03 a.m. adds that memorial service apparently planned at Capitol on Friday.
5th Update at 9:52 a.m. adds comment from Sen. Johnny Isakson.
4th Update at 9:26 a.m. adds comment from DuBose Porter, Calvin Smyre.
3rd Ypdate at 9:20 a.m. adds comment from former Gov. Roy Barnes.
2nd Update at 9:05 a.m. adds comment from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.
1st Update at 7:38 a.m. with comments from Jane Kidd, Sen. Eric Johnson.

(12/18/07) In death, former Speaker Tom Murphy on Friday will make one last visit to the Georgia House he loved so well before reposing in state in the traditional place of honor, the Capitol Rotunda.

Details released lated today by the governor's office show the casket will arrive at the Capitol at 10 a.m., where it will be greeted by Gov. and Mrs. Sonny Perdue, and then will be escorted into the Capitol and to the House chambers on the third floor by a State Patrol honor guard and a lone bagpiper.

Current and former House members will participate in a brief service in the chamber, led by current Speaker Glenn Richardson and former Speaker Terry Coleman. Then a prayer service will take place in the rotunda. Perdue and Richardson will deliver eulogies, and former Rep. Bill Lee, one of Murphy's closest friends, will lead a prayer.

Public visitation will be permitted from about noon to 4 p.m. when the casket will be escorted to a waiting motorcade which will take Murphy's body home to Bremen. The family plans a service on Saturday.

Earlier, Perdue ordered flags on state buildings flown at half-staff in memory of former House Speaker Tom Murphy, who died Monday night.

Here is a sampling of condolences from officials and others:

Gov. Sonny Perdue: “For more than a quarter-century, Speaker Murphy was a dominant figure in Georgia politics. As a public servant, he always fought for the children of Georgia, our veterans and the disabled. When he rose to speak, people listened, even if they disagreed with his politics. And when he said he was going to act, he kept his word. Speaker Murphy’s spirit will forever be part of the General Assembly and his love for our state should serve as an example to us all. Mary and I are deeply saddened by the loss of Speaker Murphy. His family and friends will remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

Former Gov. Roy Barnes: "There are so few left like Tom Murphy. Looked you straight in the eye, said what he meant, didn't lie to you even when you didn't like what he said, and always had the interest of the public at the forefront. Oh, how we thirst for more like him in this current time."

Speaker Glenn Richardson: “Georgia has lost a great leader today, and for that, we are all sad. While the family of Speaker Murphy has suffered the greatest loss, all Georgians have lost a true friend and a great political leader. The stresses and responsibilities the job of speaker creates are too many to be counted, and yet, Speaker Murphy handled it all with dignity and distinction for 28 years. His is truly a legacy beyond words. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this especially difficult time.”

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson: “Tom Murphy’s passing is a loss to all our state and all of our citizens. Tom Murphy was a giant in Georgia politics, and his legacy is everywhere. Without Tom Murphy there would be no World Congress Center or Georgia Dome or MARTA. Without Tom Murphy our parks, our schools and rural roads would not be what they are. Simply put, Georgia would not be what it is were it not for Speaker Murphy. As tough as he was on the outside, he had a soft spot in his heart for children, the poor and the sick. He was a product of the Depression, and it left a lasting impression on him. In many a speech, Speaker Murphy would reflect on the days of his youth and would vow never to let a Georgia child face the conditions he did. Tom Murphy is gone, but he has left a living legacy that will endure in our institutions, our economy and our children.”

Former Rep. Matt Towery, CEO of InsiderAdvantage and a Murphy family friend: "On behalf of everyone associated with our company and those of us who loved him so dearly, we express our deepest condolences to the Murphy family. We have lost one of the greatest Georgians of our lifetime, and the magnitude of that loss can hardly be measured at this moment of both personal and statewide grief."

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, who was minority leader under Murphy: “Speaker Murphy cast a giant shadow on Georgia’s Gold Dome. History will include him with Richard Russell, Carl Vinson, the Talmadges and Zell Miller when it chronicles Georgia’s political greats of the 20th century. Speaker Murphy was a good man who loved the Georgia House and who loved our state and he served both with distinction and honor. As Georgians we all owe him a debt of gratitude, we mourn his passing and we celebrate his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle: “Speaker Murphy loved the state of Georgia and committed himself to a life of public service. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, you could count on his words being truthful. Murphy will mark our history books as a political legend and will be remembered as one who took care of his caucus. My favorite memory of Speaker Murphy was when I was fighting for an inter-basin transfer for Forsyth County. He was in strong opposition and while I beat him in committee and on the floor, his knowledge and political prowess meant he beat me in the end. He understood the political process better than anyone I have ever known and I am fortunate to have watched him in action."

Jane Kidd, Georgia Democratic Party Chair: "The thoughts and prayers of Georgia Democrats are with the family, friends, and colleagues of Tom Murphy. "Georgia lost a true statesman last night. Tom Murphy was a fixture in Georgia politics, and an agent of much of our state's success and prosperity. His exceptional tenure as Speaker is a testament to his dedication to the the people of Georgia. We'll miss his knowledge, commitment to Georgia's future, and sharp wit, and while we may try to fill his shoes, there will never be another Tom Murphy."

Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson: “Tom Murphy was a strong and honest leader. Whether you agreed with him or not, you had to respect him. As a former member of the House, I credit him with an open and firm style that I tried to model when elected Senate President Pro Tempore 10 years later. He was a partisan Democrat who would help train a freshman Republican. He was the most powerful person in Georgia who took time to see anybody who dropped by. He tamed his Irish temper and let his tears flow freely. He loved his family, the House, and the State of Georgia. Tom Murphy defined legislative power and used it to benefit all of Georgia from the ports in Savannah to the Georgia Dome to our University system. Today’s Georgia owes its economic infrastructure to Tom Murphy.”

House Democratic Leader DuBose Porter, one of two people who challenged Murphy for the Speakership: "Tom Murphy and I disagreed on a lot of things but at the end of the day we both put aside our personal differences and worked together. He has left a great legacy for Georgia. The prayers of the entire state are with his family today."

Rep. Calvin Smyre, who chaired the House Rules Committee under Murphy: “If there was a list of all of the good things that Tom Murphy did in his public career for the state it would stretch over 400 miles from Lookout Mountain in North Georgia to St. Marys in South Georgia. Speaker Murphy was one of the best leaders this state has ever seen and it was an honor to serve with him in the House of Representatives. He told me often how much he loved Georgia. We shared many private moments which helped me in my personal and professional life. Georgia has lost a true hero."