James Lester Murphy, BHS 1945

James Lester Murphy, BHS 1945

May 21, 1927-Nov. 1, 2010 Benicia Resident Jim was the son of Lester and Harriet Murphy. He grew up in Burbank, CA and graduated from Burbank High School where he was student body president and star football player.

Jim joined the Army and became drill sergeant at Fort Sill, OK and played football for the team at Camp Lee, VA. After serving in the Army, Jim worked on the ski patrol and as a beach life guard in southern California.

He joined the U.S. Forest Service working on and supervising hot shot crews. After returning to school, Jim obtained a B.S. and M.S. in Forestry from Utah State University, then a Ph.D. in Forest Economics from University of Michigan. Jim spent over 50 years working in the field of forest fire sciences. He was known as the pioneer of helicopter use in forest fire control, and has been referred to as the "Father of Helitack."

He spent years working for the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho, California, Washington, and Washington D.C. He began the country's first graduate university program in forest fire science implemented at the University of Washington. He trained fire fighters around the world, including Peace Corps members in Chile, and fire management specialists in Spain and Australia.

In Washington D.C., Jim served as the Deputy Assistant Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, and later as a fire science researcher associated with the U.C. Berkeley Fire Research Station.

After retirement, Jim started his own fire management consulting firm, Fire Science Systems, and together with his family, traveled to Africa, China, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.

Jim married "the love of his life," Elizabeth Wilson Murphy, on August 18, 1955, in Glendale, California, and they were later sealed in the Los Angeles temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together they had four children, Maureen Murphy Stanton, Eileen Murphy Allred, Sean Murphy, and Colleen Murphy Gosser. Jim was also the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren. Jim was preceeded in death by his friend and sister, Virginia Murphy Schwartzrock.

Jim was a family man, and he shared his life and love with all of his family. He was deeply intelligent, clever and funny, genuine and kind. We will miss him, but we know we will see him again.

Services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13, 12:30 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Benicia, 1125 Southampton Road. In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to be made to the National Museum of Forest Service History, Box 2772, Missoula, MT, 59806.