Assembly Speaker, Dr. Doty Murphy

Dr. Doty Murphy hails from a family of Medical Doctors in El Dorado, Arkansas. After finishing El Dorado High School as an honor graduate, he attended Rice University in Houston, Texas, where he became a Christian. Graduating from Rice in 1963 with membership in Phi Beta Kappa, he took his medical training at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in Little Rock, graduating in 1967, and receiving the Faculty Key Award for that year. He finished three years of Pediatrics training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, sandwiched around a two year stint with the United States Public Health Service as a medical Epidemiologist.

After a year (1972-1973) with the Arkansas Department of Health as Director of Communicable Disease Control, Dr. Murphy practiced in Mena, Strong, and finally in Springdale (all in Arkansas). He closed his medical practice in 2001 and moved into a ministry of Biblical Counseling.

Dr. Murphy and his wife Phyllis still live in Springdale. They have six children and seven grandchildren. The Murphys have served Christ in Russia (2 years) and made numerous short-term mission and ministry trips to Liberia, South America, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, China, England and the Ukraine. The Murphys currently attend Lighthouse Baptist Church in Springdale.

Dr. Murphy’s relationship with Ecclesia began in 1977 as he lent his services of love to help prepare our students for their international outreaches. And for several years, he also served faithfully on the Advisory Board of Ecclesia’s Living Alternatives Mercy Ministries. We sincerely cherish our relationship with Dr. Murphy and highly value his wise counsel coming from a true heart, committed to Christ in the advancement of God’s Kingdom.