Murlan J. Murphy

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Murlan J. (Jeremiah) Murphy was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1918. Murphy Oil Soap was first marketed in 1910 (approx.) by Mr. Murphy's father, who was also Murlan J. Murphy and was president of the Murphy-Phoenix Company, which was founded in 1890 by Mr. Murphy's grandfather, Jeremiah T. Murphy. The original business of Murphy-Phoenix was Industrial Specialty Chemicals, especially lubricants.

Murlan J. Murphy is a graduate of St. Ignatius High School and Case Institute of Technology (Chemical Engineering) in Cleveland.

In the early 1970s Mr. Murphy was joined in the business by his five children, Jerry, Ray, Paul, Rita, and Brian, who together managed the growth of Murphy's Oil Soap into a leading consumer brand. In 1991, the Murphy-Phoenix Company was acquired by Colgate Palmolive Company. Subsequent to this transaction, two businesses were formed to continue the industrial chemical product lines. These are JTM Products, Solon, Ohio, and CheMasters, Madison, Ohio. Both companies are owned by members of the Murphy family.

Mr. Murphy has been a generous supporter of many not for profit institutions, primarily in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Foremost among these is his alma mater, St. Ignatius High School, where he donated a gymnasium, a chapel, and a science building, and added to the endowment.

Mr. Murphy and his wife, Margaret (Scanlan, of Lorain, Ohio) have five children, seventeen grandchildren, and (as of 1/14/08) four great grandchildren.