LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE


to accept this great honor, principally because it had been an-
nounced in the newspapers without any consultation having
been made with him on the subject, and in conversation with


me, he said, 'What do
you certainly ought to
it will afford as an


you think about it?' I said, 'Doctor,
accept it. Think of the opportunity
advertisement of the University and


how much it will promote its growth. Such an honor must
necessarily reflect credit on the institution you represent and
you should not do otherwise than accept it.' And I believe it
was only for the honor it might do his University that he
considered Colonel Bryan's well-meaning compliment. Had
he been nominated and elected, this whole United States
would have had no cause to fear the result of his stewardship.
 "He was a big man with the poet's vision and the artist's
 temperament. On days when the worries of the office were
 light he would be jovial, and then again sad and depressed.
 The troubles of 'his boys' and their thoughtless doings gave
 him no little concern and it was not easy for him to throw off
 this feeling which showed so many times in his greeting. -
 "Through close association, I found that Dr. Murphree
was a home man. He loved his wife and family with all the
devotion of a true Christian, and when this dear wonderful
woman was taken from him some six years ago, he sustained
a loss that meant more to him than even his closest friends
realized.
 "Mrs. Murphree was an unusual woman, an efficient help-
mate and loyal companion with a keen conception of life and
its meaning. Her children reflect the home influence of this
very happy and devoted couple. Dr. Murphree never quite
recovered from this loss and I believe that his sudden going in
the midst of such a life of promise, may be rightfully called
the result of a broken heart.
 "I believe his golf was a great help to make life worth
living, and it gave him the opportunity to look up into the blue
skies where no doubt he could almost feel the presence of his
departed helpmate. No wonder he loved golf. Certainly it
gave him the inspiration and incentive to a life of service.
 "Florida University may have another president, but no
man can fit into it with such exactness, nor execute with such