The Wolfpacker

July 2014 - Football Preview

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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150 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PAST demic scholarship programs, endowing two Caldwell scholarships and providing scholar- ship funding throughout the university. He's served on the board of the Veterinary Medi- cine Foundation, the Wolfpack Club and the Alumni Association. He was elected to his first public office in 1983 as a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives. He also served in the Senate, where he worked tirelessly to get state appropriations for a new arena for Wolf- pack basketball. When the building opened in 1999, Murphy was a member of the Centen- nial Authority that oversaw the operation of the $165 million facility that is shared by NC State and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. "It is entirely appropriate that the first spe- cial contributor elected to the Hall of Fame is Wendell Murphy," said NC State athletics director Debbie Yow. "His passion for Wolf- pack athletics is apparent in his attendance at Olympic sport competitions, as well as football and men's basketball games. "As important, a number of the most im- pactful facility upgrades would not have be- come a reality without his leadership, includ- ing the stunning Murphy Center, the home of our football program." Murphy began his 51-year association with the Wolfpack Club shortly after he graduated, though he was largely absent from attending games for the first few years. "I am exaggerating a little bit to say that I worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Murphy, who helped his father grow the family's feed production business and also started Murphy Family Farms. "But not by a lot. I didn't have the money and certainly didn't have the time. "After a few years, we had our foot in the door with our business, and I had a little more time. Since then, I have seldom missed an ACC tournament and have gone to practically all the home and most of the away games in football and basketball. I wish had been able to find a way to go to more college baseball games, because I love baseball." Murphy's business eventually became the world's largest pork producer, worth more than $1 billion when he sold it to Smithfield Farms in 1999. Shortly afterwards, he helped fund a $150 million revitalization of Wolfpack athletics 3311 Trent Road • New Bern, NC 28562 • (252) 684-2885 www.easternderm.com Check out our other offices in Eastern NC located in Greenville, Edenton, Elizabeth City, Morehead City and Washington GO PACK! Tony Porter, D.D.S. General Dentistry NCSU Class of 1986 3031 Lyndhurst Avenue Winston Salem, NC 27103 (336) 765-9154 Ext. 2 7 Days a week Low Rates • • Various sizes available • Fenced/lighted/cameras • Insurance • Personal • Commercial • Boats • RVs • Mobile homes • Trucks • Outside storage available 2107 Hwy. 70 East, Garner 27529 Take I-40E Exit 306 to 70 E. Go 1 mile on the left "It is entirely appropriate that the first special contributor elected to the Hall of Fame is Wendell Murphy." ■ NC State athletics director Debbie Yow 148-151.Pack Past.indd 150 6/27/14 10:16 AM

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