William Murphy

Born in Kingston and playing for the local Limestone club, Murphy was transferred to Toronto by his employer, the Dominion Bank. In 1911, with the crew of the Argonaut senior eight, he won both the US and the Canadian national championships. Murphy then was a member of the Canadian eight at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Unfortunately, the Canadian crew was drawn against the British Leander Club in round one, with Leander narrowly defeating the Toronto crew.

Murphy was a versatile sportsman, playing ice hockey and football in addition to rowing. In hockey, as a defenceman, he captained the Argonaut hockey team to the Ontario finals in 1911. In 1914 Murphy led the Argonauts football team to their first Grey Cup championship and was named the league’s most valuable player. In 1915, he was made captain of the Argonauts football team.

Waiting for the transfer to the European theatre with the air force in World War I, he decided to play the opening game for the new football season in October 1915. Here, Murphy was severely injured and was left paralyzed after he fell on his head. He died five months later after a final attempt at an operation failed.