Brower Murphy "Murf" ROBERTS
ROBERTS, Brower Murphy “Murf” 74, of Tampa, creator and founder in 1974, of The Library Corporation, known internationally as TLC, died May 24, 2013, after a long illness with Alzheimer's. Murphy, later Murphy Roberts, was a leader in the burgeoning informational technology industry. He designed innovative information tools and implemented new technologies including MARCFICHE, ACT, and voice/data modems, and drew accolades from colleagues, his favorite being “the person I'd most like to be stranded on a desert island with.” In 1985, The Library Corporation “was the first organization in the world to successfully use CD-ROM technology for data storage,” and that CD-ROM “as well as the original BiblioFile Cataloging CD-ROMs, are now in the Smithsonian Institution,” according to Wikipedia. Murphy told relatives that he decided to leave his ground-breaking CD-ROM innovations in the public domain because he did not want to limit the public's access to information. Carnegie Mellon University recognized The Library Corporation in 1995 as “a pioneer in applying new technologies,” adding that, Its innovations include the world's first commercial CD-ROM application, which placed three million Library of Congress records on CD. Murphy retired from The Library Corporation in 1996 to Tampa. The son of the late Brower Murphy Sr. and Evelyn Smith Murphy, he attended Choate prep school in Connecticut and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After serving three years with the U.S. Army in Europe, he worked on fledgling computer programs for Delta Air Lines, before receiving a B.A. from the University of Maryland. He had lifelong interests in scientific developments and in his personal life, was a devotee of gliders and built and flew his own ultralight airplanes. After retirement, he enjoyed sailing his C&C sailboat to the Keys and the Islands and exploring new places globally. Brower Murphy Roberts is survived by his wife, Janet Roberts of Tampa, founder of Earth Charter U.S.; a sister, Darst Murphy McNairy of Estes Park, CO; three step daughters, Andrea Floyd and Amy Haile of Tampa, Allison Kirby of Augusta, GA; and three step grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Mellich Hospice House in Tampa or Earth Charter U.S., 607 Bay St., Tampa, FL 33609.