William Francis “Frank” Murphy, U.S. Army
William Francis “Frank” Murphy of Michigan lived a life defined by service, both in uniform and in public office. Born in Harbor Beach in 1890, he grew up in a small town on the shores of Lake Huron, where he learned the values of community, discipline, and responsibility. Those lessons guided him through a career that would eventually leave a deep mark on Michigan and the nation.
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Murphy was among the young men who answered the call. He joined the U.S. Army and served as a captain in the American Expeditionary Forces in France. In Europe, he witnessed the devastation of modern war, experiences that hardened his resolve to dedicate himself to justice and fairness once he returned home. Though his wartime service was brief, it gave him a sense of perspective that would later shape his work in government, where the lives of ordinary men and women often depended on decisions made in distant halls of power.
After the war, Murphy pursued a career in law and public service. He rose quickly, earning a reputation as a fair-minded attorney and judge with a deep concern for the working class. By the 1930s, the Great Depression was tearing through Michigan’s economy, and Murphy found himself at the center of the storm. Elected Mayor of Detroit in 1930, he confronted mass unemployment, widespread hunger, and waves of protests. Instead of relying solely on force to keep order, Murphy sought compromise and understanding. He opened food distribution centers and tried to bridge the gap between workers and employers.
One of the defining moments of his governorship of Michigan came during the Flint Sit-Down Strike of 1936–1937. Thousands of autoworkers occupied General Motors factories, demanding recognition of the United Auto Workers union. Pressure mounted from business leaders and conservative politicians to send in the National Guard and break the strike. Murphy, remembering both the discipline of his military service and the human suffering he had seen in war and depression, refused to allow bloodshed. Instead, he stationed the Guard to maintain peace but resisted calls to use them for violent suppression. His approach led to negotiations that ended in union recognition—a turning point for American labor.
Murphy’s balanced but courageous decision during the strike earned him both praise and criticism, but it highlighted his guiding principle: the law must protect the dignity of every citizen, not just the powerful. His leadership in those tense weeks elevated him in national politics.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, recognizing Murphy’s talents, appointed him U.S. Attorney General in 1939 and, the following year, to the Supreme Court of the United States. As a justice, Murphy was known for his eloquent defense of civil liberties. He wrote opinions that championed freedom of speech, the rights of minorities, and protection against government overreach. Perhaps most famously, he dissented in the case of *Korematsu v. United States*, condemning the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II as “legalized racism.” His words stood as a moral challenge to the Court and the nation, even as the majority upheld the policy.
Though his life was cut short when he died in 1949 at only fifty-nine, Murphy’s legacy as a soldier, a governor, an attorney general, and a justice continues to resonate. He was buried at Our Lady of Lake Huron Catholic Cemetery in Harbor Beach, Michigan. He carried the lessons of service, discipline, and fairness from the battlefields of France to the halls of government, always mindful that the measure of leadership lies in how it protects the least powerful. For Michigan and for the country, William “Frank” Murphy remains a figure remembered for courage, principle, and a steadfast devotion to public service.
He was inducted into the Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor in 2025.