USAFA Class Heritage Class of 1963

35th Reunion (1998): Bob (Murph) Murphy was born in Saginaw, MI, and graduated from Saginaw High School in 1958. He attended Michigan State University and participated in the Air Force ROTC program for one year before entering USAFA with the Golden Boys of ‘63. Murph attended UPT at Reese AFB, Lubbock, TX. While there he and Veronica (Ronnie) Phannenstiel were married in June 1964. After Bob received his wings, he and Ronnie moved to Eglin AFB, FL where he was a B-52 copilot. First daughter, Kelly, was born at Eglin in 1965. After deactivation of the Wing, they all moved to Barksdale, where Murph served as a standardization/evaluation instructor copilot and aircrew commander. Second daughter, Christine, was born at Barksdale in 1967. In 1968 the gang moved to Westover AFB, MA, where Bob served as a B-52 aircrew commander and standardization/evaluation IP until 1970. While assigned to the 99th, Murph attended SOS and Participated in two “ARC LIGHT” deployments to SEA. While attending Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) from 1970-1, third daughter, Theresa, was born, and Murph earned an MBA from Auburn University. Then it was off to train in the O-2A at Hurlburt AFB, FL. After enjoying the Florida beaches for a couple of months, Ronnie and the girls settled in Denver while Murph went to Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller (FAC). While there, he commanded units at Ban Me Thout and Tan Son Nhut ABs. Returning in 1972, the Murphys moved to Omaha, where Bob served at SAC Headquarters as a branch chief in the Plans and Policy Division. He directed the implementation of SAC’s Satellite Basing Program. In 1974, Bob was assigned to Louisiana Tech as an AFROTC Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, and the family was off again. In 1977, Murph entered the Naval War College and graduated with distinction in 1978. He was then assigned to Ellsworth AFB, SD, where he commanded the 77th Bombardment Squadron (B-52s) until April, 1980, when he returned to SAC Headquarters in Requirements as Chief of the Air Vehicle Division. In July 1980, he became the SAC Assistant Chief of Staff. In August 1981, Bob became Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations of the 320th Bomb Wing at Mather AFB, CA. He was then assigned to Operations in the basement of the Pentagon in July 1982 as Chief of the Strategic Division. In June 1983, Murph became the Assistant Deputy Director for Operations and Training. He was then assigned as Vice Commander of the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville AFB, AR, from January 1984 to June 1985, when he became the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of Eighth Air Force. In 1986, he began a series of jobs in the SAC Inspector General organization, and became SAC’s last Inspector General in December 1991. Murph is a command pilot with over 4,000 flying hours, including nearly 1,200 combat hours. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with three clusters, the Air Medal with seven clusters, the Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses. After 21 family moves in 26 years, Ronnie and Bob have settled in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. Kelly lives in Aspen, CO; Christy lives in Broomfield, CO, with her husband. Peter Ammon, and Theresa lives in Omaha, NE.