Page 68 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2018 - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

Welcome Home,

Russ Murphy

by Katherine McLamore

and Jane Bromley

Lubbock has a reason to celebrate! One He was also the worship leader, and
of its favorite sons has returned. IABC appreciated not only his talent
but his passion. But his story was still
Thousands of stories comprise this unfolding. In 2006, he and wife Saralyn,
remarkable life, and the one about Russ who had been teaching Math for over
Murphy’s return to Lubbock is just the 30 years at Lubbock and Monterey High
latest. Schools, moved to Nashville.

Life didn’t look promising when young Russ’s gift of singing and songwriting
Russ was growing up in a small home blossomed in “Music City”, and he
in central Texas with alcoholic parents. recorded some well-known songs,
He often stood guard over his younger including the inspirational favorite
twin sisters to protect them. But there “Welcome Home, Soldier” in 2008.
was one bright spot in Hubbard, Texas. Another song that did not make the
His grandparents lived just three blocks top 10 but is especially enjoyable to
away, and Russ saw them every day. It West Texas ears is the song “Lubbock,
was from them that he learned what a Texas”. He had 11 songs go to #1 in the
loving marriage looks like. Things really Inspirational Country Music Charts.
began looking up when he met a young Russ Murphy won ICMA Songwriter of
lady named Saralyn Morgan at Richfield the Year five times and had three songs
High School in Waco. By the time he spreading the gospel that had changed win ICMA Song of the Year.
came to Texas Tech in 1970, his story his life. The duo sang over 2000 times
was looking even more promising. He between 1981 and 1989. Russ and Saralyn thrived in Tennessee.
and Saralyn married in 1974, and he felt While his celebrity grew, Saralyn
called to pursue full-time ministry. In 1989, he was hired by Lubbock’s happily continued her high school
Indiana Avenue Baptist Church to teaching career. But then tragedy struck
While attending Southwestern Baptist launch their college ministry. Nine suddenly. Saralyn died unexpectedly in
Theological Seminary, his music students showed up the first Sunday, his arms one afternoon in June 2016 as
ministry developed and thrived. In but by the time Russ left, over 1200 the result of a rare condition called aortic
1981, he began traveling the world with college students were attending the dissection. They had been married over
his friend Bill Gammill, singing and largest service of its kind in the world. 40 years, and Russ found himself alone.

68 Lubbock Senior Link