With help from the GI Bill, Murphy enrolled in the Boston School of Practical Arts, now the Art Institute of Boston, which he attended from 1959 to 1962. It was there he learned all aspects of commercial art and experimented with different mediums.
After living in the Caribbean for three years, Murphy returned to New England and worked briefly for the Haverhill Journal. In August of 1966, he joined the staff at the Manchester Union-Leader where he enjoyed a long and successful career.
On May 7, 1971, Murphy was an honored guest at the White House by personal invitation of President Richard M. Nixon, who wanted the original of Murphy's cartoon concerning the Cooper-Church amendment. Nixon said he found the cartoon amusing and had been an admirer of Murphy's work for a number of years.
Bob Murphy lives in central Florida.
