Pat Murphy was born in Texas and attended Trinity College. He briefly taught school in Arizona and then earned an LL.B. at the University of South Carolina Law School in 1913.
His law practice in Columbia was interrupted by his overseas service in the armed forces during World War I and World War II. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and retired as a colonel.
He married Katherine Zemp of Camden and they had three children. A student of literature, he was a poet, delightful story teller and companion. He was an excellent shot and hunted all types of game in North America and Australia. Courageous in poor health, his spirit never quit.
He served as President of the Richland County Bar Association and as a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Society of Cincinnati, the Masons and the Elks. He headed the Red Cross, the T.B. Association and the Community Chest and served as a vestryman and Sunday School Superintendent at Trinity Episcopal Church.
An astute, energetic and versatile lawyer, he often appeared before Federal agencies in Washington, D.C., ably representing the interests of his clients in the cotton business. Strong lawyer and friend.