Biography

Paul with sisters Eileen Blanchard (left) and Madelyn Robbins (right)

Paul Murphy has been a lifetime resi— dent of Charlottetown. the city of his birth in 1942. School and also was a member of the first

He attended Queen Square

graduating class of Birchwood High School in 1938. He graduated from both Saint Dunstan‘s University and the

[‘niversity of Prince Edward Island.

As a youngster. he enjoyed sports and participated mainly in baseball and has— ketball. His sports idol was. and still is "Mr. I'iockey". Gordie Howe. Paul coached high school basketball for many years at Colonel Gray Senior High School.

The author chose teaching as a career and taught for two years at Saint Dunstan‘s High School and for jl years at Colonel Gray Senior High School. He retired from teaching in 1997.

“Murph” has been a devotee of harness racing since the 1940s when he raced up and down Bay/field Street impersonating horses like Ail/1' Aircrq/l and Val/a La ire/la. He raced against playmates Bert McWade. Paul McGonnell. Frank and Harry Callaghan. Russell Shepherd and

john “Duck" Leightizer. all of whom also

lived on Hayfield Street.

Over the years, Paul co-owned a few standardbreds with Garry MacDonald. For sentimental reasons. his favourite horse was C.l..'s Gracious Lac/y. From 2002 — 2008. he participated as a volun— teer on the annual Memory Lane presen— tations at the Charlottetown Driving Park with Jerry McCabe and Bill Mulligan. He also served as a volunteer at the same venue in 2005 for the World Driving Championship and in 2007 for the National Driving Championship.

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