April 15, 2023
The Struthers School Foundation for Educational Excellence will honor four individuals who have contributed to the Struthers educational system at their bi-annual Hall of Fame Banquet on the evening of Thursday, April 27th, 2023 at 6:00pm. As the 2021 event was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, the number of inductees was increased to four rather than the typical two. The honorees this year are Joseph Fuline, Bruce Murphy, Roy Thomas (Tim) Roddy Jr. and Betty Washington. Honorees are selected for their contributions to the education of Struthers City Schools students through financial, time/talent or dedication to programs that enhance the chances for students’ success later in life. The banquet will be held at Elmtree Catering, 170 Walton Ave in Struthers. This year will feature entertainment by two of the band/choral groups from Struthers High School and an invocation by Pastor Robert Noble of Locust Grove Baptist Church. For those interested in learning about and contributing to the educational needs of Struthers students, tickets are $45 and can be obtained by calling Foundation President Ron Shives at 330-507-8095 or contacting him by email at rshives@ymail.com.
November 19, 2021
MURPHY FAMILY DONATES $30,000 TO ENHANCE EDUCATION
FOR STRUTHERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS
Pictured (l to r): Ron Shives, Struthers School Foundation President; Pete Pirone, Struthers Schools Superintendent; Bruce Murphy; Michele Murphy; and Vernon Murphy
The Murphy family from Struthers came together at Struthers High School on November 19th, 2021 to honor family members as they invest in the students of the Struthers City School District. The family donors include Bruce (‘71) who served 31 years in the banking industry most recently as President of Community Development Banking at KeyBank, his wife Michele, sister Jill (‘80) (Murphy) Santos and their cousin Vernon (‘70) Murphy who have made a major investment in facilities and scholarships for the students of Struthers. The Murphy family consists of significant Struthers athletes who excelled in winning countless championships in football, basketball and track and made several all-star teams for well over a decade. Several went on to play sports in college or attended trade school leading to successful careers.
The family made this investment to honor family members who attended and/or competed at Struthers, including Bruce’s and Jill’s brothers Calvin and Ernest and Vernon’s brothers Vince and Philip, all who have passed. The donations serve to invest in students by supporting the Digital multi-Media program and to offer assistance by providing scholarships to minority students who are graduating from Struthers. They also express their thanks to their fathers William Murphy and Harold Murphy who were graduates of the Struthers City School system and served as their guides to becoming successful men and women, along with their mothers Juanita and Dorothy Murphy who were central to their growth toward responsible adulthood.
The Murphy Family has invested $15,000 to upgrade the facilities of the Digital multi-Media program initiated by the Struthers School Foundation on campus and another $15,000 to provide $1,000 scholarships for the next fifteen years to a successful minority student matriculating to a four-year or two- year college program or to a trade school.
Mr. Bruce Murphy says, “while our family has regularly made charitable investments in our colleges, trade schools, churches and non- profits, it was time for us to come home where it all began to honor our family but demonstrate that it is good to give back to make a difference in someone’s life. We are proud of our collective success and celebrate this opportunity.”