Renaming the 2900 block of North 22nd Street "Ray Murphy Way" to honor Ray Murphy for his tireless service to the North 22nd Street Community.

Renaming the 2900 block of North 22 nd Street “Ray Murphy Way” to honor Ray Murphy for his tireless service to the North 22 nd Street Community. WHEREAS, Ray Murphy was born June 5, 1945 in McBee, Chesterfield County, South Carolina to Nezzie and Elijah Murphy. He was one of 15 children. At age 12, three of Ray’s older brothers moved his parents and four siblings to Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Ray Murphy graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School and served two years in the U.S. Army. He met his wife, Gigi, in 1962 and they married in 1976; and WHEREAS, Ray always spoke about being the seventh son and believed he would always be successful. Having older brothers who were in business and being raised by parents who raised their children by God’s word and business principles, he worked towards becoming an entrepreneur. He initially worked at Boeing Aircraft, and while still there opened a small sandwich shop Beef & Weenies on North 25 th Street. After a few years he moved on to open a shoe concession on North 22 nd Street; and WHEREAS, A young black man in his early 20s, when the opportunity to purchase Tommy’s Men’s Shop at 2917 N. 22 nd Street became available, he immediately moved to pursue the challenge. With the financing assistance of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the encouragement of his mother, he went through the process and obtained a loan for this purchase. After successfully being approved for a loan, he closed the shoe concession and entered the retai…