Mineola gives Murphy proper send off from civic center

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 10/19/22

Mineola paused last Wednesday afternoon to send Nancy and Ken Murphy on their way to Virginia.

The director of the Mineola Civic Center for the past seven years, Nancy Murphy is retiring and moving east to be close to grandchildren.

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Mineola gives Murphy proper send off from civic center

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Mineola paused last Wednesday afternoon to send Nancy and Ken Murphy on their way to Virginia.

The director of the Mineola Civic Center for the past seven years, Nancy Murphy is retiring and moving east to be close to grandchildren.

At the reception in her honor, she made it clear, it’s not for her kids but for her grandkids.

John Fuller, a former board member,  asked how is it possible to thank someone like Nancy, or to say goodbye.

“Her leadership has been superb,” he said. She had a vision and a sense of mission for the center and commitment.

Fuller also described her as organized, decisive and tenacious.

He told the story of an RVer who was being less than honest, and Fuller saw him leaving with the steps still engaged, dragging the ground. He had the opportunity to speak to Murphy about his antics and was leaving as fast as he could, forgetting to put up the steps.

Another time some high school boys had been caught vandalizing the civic center restrooms. It fell to Murphy to meet with school officials to see if they had been punished enough.

“An encounter with Nancy set them straight,” he quipped.

Murphy did what was best for the community, he said.

He described the Mineola native’s many accomplishments in life, saying she was like a butterfly who spread her wings and flew away. But then she returned to share her passion, commitment and talents with the community.

She looked at the center not as a physical building, Fuller said, but with the concept of a facility that can meet the needs of the people.

Murphy responded that she had an exceptional staff to work with. She singled out Ken, who stepped in when there was a vacancy on the staff after he retired.

She noted that she did not always do what was popular, adding, “Too bad.”

“I always looked out for the interests of the civic center,” she said.

She was privileged to serve so many, and she concluded, “It’s time to go love on my grandchildren.”

Murphy’s replacement is Lisa Bright of Mineola, the assistant director for the past five years.

Fuller advised she should keep Nancy on speed dial.