FRANCIS P. MURPHY

WMUR AM Manchester 1941-1956
WMUR FM Manchester 1947-1950
WMUR TV Manchester 1954-1959

A native of Winchester, NH, Francis P. Murphy started work in a local shoe factory as a nailer of packing cases, later working in Newport, Manchester & Nashua.

In 1922 he and two partners founded J.F. McElwain Company, which by 1936 operated 12 shoe factories and was the largest employer of labor in the state.

He served as governor for two terms, 1937-41, the first Roman Catholic so elected. He changed party affiliation from Republican to Democrat and unsuccessfully challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Styles Bridges in 1942.

He put WMUR AM on the air October 2, 1941; ran WMUR FM from January 25, 1947 to December 27, 1950; and secured a construction permit for WMUR TV on August 26, 1953. The station went on the air March 28, 1954 and he owned it until his death.

Francis Parnell Murphy died December 19, 1958 at the age of 81.