Legislative Reference Library | Legislators and Leaders

Charles Alfred Murphy, Sr.
Full Name: Charles Alfred Murphy, Sr.
Date of birth: February 14, 1884
Date of death: January 24, 1946

Terms of Service
Biographical Notes
Committee Information
Legislation

Terms of Service top

Chamber District Dates of Service Legislatures Party City/County Note Counties in District

S 16 Jan 13, 1925 - Jan 11, 1927 39th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ Democrat Houston / Harris Harris

S 16 Jan 11, 1921 - Jan 13, 1925 38th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ 37th ⁽⁶⁾ 38th ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ Democrat Houston / Harris Senate President Pro Tempore (38th) Fort Bend, Harris, Waller

H 15-3 Jan 14, 1919 - Jan 19, 1920 36th ⁽⁷⁾ ⁽⁸⁾ ⁽⁹⁾ ⁽¹⁰⁾ Democrat Houston / Harris Harris

H 15 Feb 27, 1918 - Jan 14, 1919 35th ⁽¹¹⁾ ⁽¹²⁾ Democrat Houston / Harris Harris

(1) 39th Legislature - All 31 Senators were elected on November 4, 1924, per Secretary of State, oath of office administered, 1/13/1925, p. 1. Senate Journal.
(2) 39th Legislature - Drawing for Terms of Office, 1/15/1925, pp. 34-35. Drew 2-year term. Senate Journal.
(3) 38th Legislature - Senate President Pro Tempore, elected 4/16/1923, 2nd C.S. Senate Journal.
(4) Democrat - "Kluxers Leave Democratic Meet: Organization Opposed at Action in Democratic Convention in Houston," 8/3/1924, p. 12. State Senator Charles Murphy nominated as chairman of County Democratic Executive Committee. San Antonio Express.
(5) 38th Legislature - Roll Call of Holdover Senators, 1/9/1923, p. 1. Senate Journal.
(6) 37th Legislature - List of State Senators Elected at the General Election Held November 2nd, 1920, oath of office administered, 1/11/1921, pp. 2-3. Senate Journal.
(7) "Governor Calls Special Harris County Elections," 2/6/1920, p. 5. "Lynch Davidson and Charles Murphy resigned to make the race for Senate. . ."; "Davidson Winner in Senatorial Race," 3/12/1920, p. 2. Brookshire Times (Brookshire, Waller County, Texas).
(8) Senate District 16 election 3/4/1920 - Lynch Davidson, "democrat," defeated Charles Murphy, "endorsed by the Non-Partisan League and organized labor of Houston", 3/8/1920, p. 2; "Non-Partisan League Makes its Bow in Texas Politics," 3/4/1920, p. 5. Denton Record-Chronicle.
(9) 36th Legislature, 3rd C.S. - Oath of Office Administered (to E.W. Neal, District 15, Place 2), 5/20/1920, pp. 1-2. No committee appointments listed for Neal in 3rd-4th C.S. Predecessor C. Murphy's district was 15-3 in House Journal, 36th Regular. House Journal.
(10) E.W. Neal, in special election 3/4/1920, sworn 5/20/1920, succeeded Charles Murphy, resigned 1/19/1920. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(11) Charles Murphy, in special election 2/23/1918, sworn 2/27/1918, succeeded Harry V. Fisher, resigned after 3rd Called Session. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(12) Assumed Democrat based on listing as Democrat in 36th Legislature. Texas Legislative Manual.

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Biographical Sketches

Memorial, March 1946, p. 126. Texas Bar Journal.

Other Resources

Obituary, "Former State Senator Charles Murphy Dies," 1/24/1946, p. 12. Sponsored "full crew bill" (complete train crews on railroads) and led Texas Supreme Court case for the "train shed law" (railroads to erect sheds to protect employees from the weather). Paris News.

Murphy, Jr., Charles Alfred. Relatives: Charles A. Murphy, Sr. - father, Charles Alfred Murphy, Jr. - son. Texas State Cemetery.

Photographs

Photograph. Charles A. Murphy, Sr., 35th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Photograph. Charles A. Murphy, Sr., 36th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Photograph. Charles A. Murphy, Sr., 37th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Photograph. Charles A. Murphy, Sr., 38th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Photograph. Charles A. Murphy, Sr., 39th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

37th session composite photo of Senate members (3rd floor back hall corridor, west wall. 3E.C2). State Preservation Board.

38th session composite photo of Senate members (3rd floor back hall corridor, west wall. 3E.C2). State Preservation Board.

39th session composite photo of Senate members (3rd floor back hall corridor, west wall. 3E.C2). State Preservation Board.

35th session composite photo of House members (House chamber gallery, west wall. 3W.2). State Preservation Board.

36th session composite photo of House members (House chamber gallery, west wall. 3W.2). State Preservation Board.

Committee Informationtop

39th R.S. - 1925
Civil Jurisprudence
Congressional Districts
Constitutional Amendments
Criminal Jurisprudence
Internal Improvements
Judicial Districts
Labor (Chair)
Mining, Irrigation and Drainage (Vice Chair)
Public Printing (Vice Chair)
Town and City Corporations

38th R.S. - 1923
Civil Jurisprudence
Constitutional Amendments
Labor (Chair)
Public Printing (Vice Chair)
Senatorial Districts
Town and City Corporations

37th R.S. - 1921
Agricultural Affairs
Commerce and Manufactures (Chair)
Congressional Districts
Constitutional Amendments
Internal Improvements
Labor
Mining, Irrigation and Drainage
Privileges and Elections
Public Buildings and Grounds (Vice Chair)
Stock and Stock Raising

36th R.S. - 1919
Common Carriers
Criminal Jurisprudence
Judicial Districts
Labor (Chair)
Sanitary Conditions in Austin, Investigate

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