Lila C. Murphy

Dr. Lila C. Murphy On November 16, Lila C. Murphy died at Concord Hospital. She was born in Hillsboro, NH, the daughter of Geraldine I. Carmichael and Edmund J. Murphy, both deceased. She is survived by brothers, Hall and Floyd Murphy of Hillsboro, NH and Jerry Murphy of Mt. Ayer, Iowa. A brother David Murphy (deceased). Sisters Tessie Murphy of Manchester, NH and Rita Dunlap of Antrim, NH and many nieces and nephews. There will be no calling hours and all arrangements are private. Lila was a native of New Hampshire and graduated from Hillsboro High School. She received her baccalaureate and masters degrees from Keene State College and a doctorate from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. She was a home economics teacher in NH and Connecticut and coached girls basketball for many years. She was employed by the NH State Department of Education for 15 years. While with the State, she served as Consultant for Home Economics Education, Director of Secondary Vocational Education, Assistant and Acting Chief of the Division of Vocational Education and Director of the RCU (Research Coordinating Unit). Dr. Murphy was responsible for the development and initial implementation of the Twenty Area Vocational Educational Centers throughout the State of NH in cooperation with state and local educational, business and industrial leaders. In 1978, Dr. Murphy joined the National Center for Research in Vocational Education at Ohio State University. She developed the National Academy for Vocational Education, the professional development arm of the National Center. The Academy provided inservice opportunities for national and international leadership personnel. In 1981, she became Professor and Chair of the Department of Individual and Family Studies, College of Human Resources, University of Delaware. While chair, she was responsible for the development of a doctoral program in Family Studies, the first Ph.D. program at the college. Her teaching, research and consulting interests focused on women and leadership, and women and work issues. She completed two national studies; one on women in vocational education leadership positions and the other of the impact of vocational education sex equality legislation. She developed a new program for the undergraduate students interested in social services entitled Community and Family Studies. Dr. Murphy served in and chaired numerous state, university and national committees. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi and Omicron Nu honor societies plus related professional organizations. She received many awards including an Outstanding Alumni Award from Keene State College and was the first recipient of the E. Arthur Trabant for Women's Equality at the University of Delaware. She was a life-long advocate for students wherever she taught. Upon her retirement in 1991, students established a scholarship in her name. Therefore, it is requested that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Lila C. Murphy Fund for Leadership and Equality, Development Office, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716.