Audie Murphy - Other Honors

Other Honors

A number of schools and other buildings have been named after Murphy, and he has been the subject of several statues.

• July 8, 1948 – Murphy was awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen" of Ramatuelle, France by the municipal council, under the presidency of Mainaur Bathisi Henri, Mayor of the Commune.
• July 17, 1948 – In Paris, France, Murphy was made an honorary member in the 159th French Alpine Regiment.
• February 12, 1949 – During special and unprecedented ceremonies at Texas A&M University, Murphy became the first honorary cadet Colonel in the history of the institution, thus making him an Aggie.
• February 15, 1949 – Murphy was made an honorary member of the Texas Rangers in the Governor's office. This was followed up on July 2, 1949 when Murphy was presented with a second Honorary Commission in the Texas Rangers in ceremonies at Falfurrias, Texas.
• February 14, 1955 – Initiated into the Scottish Rite of Long Beach, California and became 32 degree KCCH Mason on 12-11-65.
• February 9, 1960 – Murphy received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 1971 – The Audie Murphy Patriotism Award is named in honor of Murphy. The Chamber of Commerce of Decatur, Alabama instituted the Audie Murphy Patriotism Award to take place during their "Spirit of America Festival". Murphy was to have been the first recipient, but was killed, Memorial Day Weekend, May 28, 1971. His widow, Pamela, accepted on his behalf.
• November 11, 1972 – A bronze plaque, 21.75 in × 31.75 in, honoring the memory of Murphy, was accepted for permanent and prominent display in the lobby of Patriotic Hall, County of Los Angeles, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at 1816 South Figueroa Street.
• November 17, 1973 – The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas was dedicated. Outside, there is a one-tonne bronze, eight-foot tall statue of Murphy. Inside the hospital, a museum depicts his life and contains items including his uniform, other clothing, books and pictures.
• November 10, 1974 – At the Audie L. Murphy Crash Memorial Site, Brush Mountain, Virginia stands a plaque in tribute to Murphy at the site of his death. The plaque is mounted on the large granite stone and was erected by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 5311, Christiansburg, Virginia.
• 1981 – Murphy inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• August 23, 1985 – During the Third Annual Western Stars Awards in Woodland Hills, California, the Golden Boot Award, a Special Memorial Award in honor of Murphy, was presented to Mrs. Pamela Murphy.
• April 23, 1986 – Murphy was posthumously inducted into the Alamo Area National Guard Hall of Fame during ceremonies in San Antonio, Texas. Murphy was the seventh Hall of Fame Honoree.
• September 1, 1986 – The U.S. Army established the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club at Fort Hood, Texas, "an elite organization of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who have demonstrated performance and inherent leadership qualities and abilities characterized by those of Sergeant Audie Murphy."
• October 14, 1991 – The West African nation of Sierra Leone issued a set of 12 stamps recognizing key World War II Motion Pictures. One stamp, Le 2 value, honors Murphy in To Hell and Back (Scott No. 1409).
• October 18, 1993 – The country of Guyana issued a set of 11 stamps in tribute to World War II. One stamp, $6.40 value, recognizes Murphy's Medal of Honor action on January 26, 1945 (Scott No. 2697).
• July 20, 1995 – Nevis Island of St. Kitts and Nevis, one of the Leeward Islands in the West Indies, an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations, issued a souvenir sheet of stamps commemorating the 50th Anniversary of The End of World War II. The sheet consists of eight stamps each with a value of $1.25; one stamp honors Murphy (Scott No. 2446).
• March 16, 1996 – The Country Music Association of Texas honored and inducted Murphy into their Hall of Fame during ceremonies which took place at the VFW Post # 3892 in Harker Heights, Texas.
• March 16, 1996 – The National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center inducted Murphy into their Hall of Fame during ceremonies in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the "35th Annual Western Heritage Awards".
• June 1996 – the Texas Legislature officially declared his birthdate, June 20, as "Audie Murphy Day".
• U.S. Highway 69 North, from North Greenville city limits to Fannin County line was renamed as the Audie Murphy Memorial Highway.
• June 20, 1996 – House Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. No. 46) resolved that the House accept for and in behalf of the State of Texas, the oil painting of Murphy in uniform by Dallas, Texas artist Kipp Soldwedel. Furthermore, it was resolved that this portrait be appropriately hung in a place of honor in the State Capitol Building with the portraits of other distinguished Texans.
• 1999 – Texas Governor George W. Bush also issued a proclamation declaring June 20 to officially be Audie Murphy Day in the State of Texas.
• From the mid-1990s through the present, an annual celebration of Murphy and other veterans in all branches of service has been held on the weekend closest to Murphy's birthday at the American Cotton Museum, renamed The Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum (in Greenville, Texas), which houses a large collection of Murphy memorabilia and personal items.
• May 3, 2000 – Murphy was honored with his portrait on a thirty-three cent United States postage stamp.
• January 29, 2000 – A plaque, 1.20 meters high and 2.70 meters long, was unveiled in Holtzwihr, France by local authorities and veterans. The plaque depicts Murphy on his tank destroyer. It was attached to a wall at the site where Murphy carried out his famous Medal of Honor action (48°7′21″N 7°25′14″E / 48.1225°N 7.42056°E / 48.1225; 7.42056).
• September 2000 – A full size bronze bust of Murphy was dedicated outside City Hall, Greenville, Texas.
• June 22, 2002 – Ten foot, 2,200 pound hollow bronze statue of Murphy was unveiled and dedicated on the grounds of the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum.
• September 2004 – Murphy plaque was dedicated at the Masonic Lounge in North Hollywood, California.
• October 23, 2004 – During a yearly event, an Audie Murphy Star was dedicated at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
• October 21, 2005 – The 8th Annual Silver Spur Awards took place in Studio City, California. Michael Dante presented to Audie's widow, Pamela Murphy, while his sons looked on.
• May 28, 2006 -(Memorial Day) a 16 x 8 inch plaque was unvieled at Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial in La Jolla,(San Diego),California proclaiming Audie Murphy the "most decorated" combat soldier of WWII.
• July 11, 2007 – Ft. Stewart, Georgia – Audie Murphy Soldier Support Center was established.
• November 2010 – Audie Murphy was nominated for a posthumous bestowal of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, the highest military award within the State of Texas. As of April 2011, the matter is still in committee.
• Veteran's Day 2012: The Audie Murphy Middle School in Alamo, Texas is dedicated in his honor.