Honorees

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Year Honored
1994
Honoree
Daniel J Murphy
Agency
Bohemia Corp Helicopter
Agency City
Eugene
Agency State
OR
Last Call
8/28/91
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
"Near legend" were the words used to describe helicopter pilot and volunteer rescuer Daniel J. Murphy for his willingness to get involved. He was the pilot of choice among emergency medical technicians--caring, compassionate and safe--with excellent flight skills for the daring rescue missions he flew in remote logging areas.<br /> <br /> Joe became interested in helicopters in the Army, where he trained as a mechanic. After discharge, he took flying lessons while working as a mechanic and eventually ended up at Bohemia Corporation. As a corporate pilot, Joe's duties included fire fighting, airlifting supplies and flying company employees to logging sites.<br /> <br /> Early in his 21 years of employment, Bohemia equipped his helicopter with medical supplies and adopted the policy which allowed Joe to "drop everything" for medical evacuation flights. He left the company president stranded four times to fly a rescue mission.<br /> <br /> During his career, he flew a total of 117 rescue missions and logged 10,500 flight hours. Joe received the Helicopter Pilot Safety Award in 1978, the Trimble Memorial Award in 1979, and the Golden Hour Award in 1983.<br /> <br /> Joe's first love was his wife Donna, his daughter Sandra, and son Randy.<br /> <br /> Joe died on August 28, 1991, at age 55 doing what he loved--flying! He and a paramedic flew to a remote logging site in Oregon to pick up an injured logger for transport to the hospital. The helicopter failed to arrive at the hospital and a nighttime search began. Rescuers picked up the helicopter's emergency locator beacon and found the wreckage. Joe, the paramedic, and the logger were dead.<br /> <br /> More than 2,500 people met at the Civic Stadium to honor Joe Murphy and the life of selflessness he led. At the end of the service, Joe's body was flown away by helicopter for burial.<br /> <br /> Honored 1994