Ed Murphey Award

Since 1965, the Ed Murphey Award has been presented for the most noteworthy performance from the previous year’s track and field season at UT.  In the history of Tennessee track and field, there have been few athletes more dominant in their discipline as Ed Murphey was from 1954-57. A native of Dearborn, Mich., Mr. Murphey attended Brownsville (Tenn.) High School and earned a track and field scholarship at Tennessee.  Murphey came to the Volunteers for head coach John Sines from the small town in Haywood County and lettered in cross country and track at UT from 1954-57. He was team captain his senior season.

Beginning in 1965, he returned to Knoxville annually to present the Ed Murphey Award for the most outstanding men’s track & field performance. Notable winners through the years have included Richmond Flowers, Willie Gault, Todd Williams, Lawrence Johnson, Anthony Famigletti, Justin Gatlin, Aries Merritt and Justin Hunter. Murphey was a member of the 2005 class inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. He went in with five other Volunteers, including fellow track athletes Darwin Bonds and Flowers. Bill Justus, W.J. Siler and Haywood Harris also represented UT in the 2005 class.

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Ed Murphey
Ed Murphey
In the history of Tennessee track and field, there have been few athletes more dominant in their discipline as Ed Murphey was from 1954-57.
Ed Murphey Classic
Ed Murphey Classic
The mission of the Ed Murphey Classic is to provide youth athletes in the Memphis area an opportunity to experience a World-class track and field event and have a chance to compete in the same event as elite caliber middle-distance runners from all over the World.
UT Track and Field
UT Track and Field
The Tennessee Volunteers Track and Field program has one of the richest traditions and history in all of college track and field.