Dwight Murphy
This encyclopedia article is about a living person.
Dwight Murphy is a Scott County businessman, educator and public official who served two stints as Scott County Executive in the 1990s and 2000s.
See Also: Mayors of Scott County
Preceded By: Verda Cope Jr. • Succeeded By: Clarence D. Lowe
Preceded By: Clarence D. Lowe • Succeeded By: Ricky A. Keeton
Early Life
Murphy was born in Winfield, the son of Edgar James Murphy (1917-1992) and Beulah King (1917-2007). He was the youngest of three children.
Murphy married Terri Phillips on Nov. 24, 1978. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University in 1986.
Professional Life
In addition to teaching school, Murphy operated Winfield Grocery as a third-generation storekeeper. His mother, Beulah Murphy, ran the grocery store before him, and she purchased it from her father, Emby King, after beginning to work there at age 14.
Scott County Executive
Murphy was first elected Scott County Executive in 1982, replacing Verda “Buddy” Cope Jr. He was re-elected in 1986 and served until 1990, when he lost his re-election bid to Clarence “Denny” Lowe.
Lowe served for eight years, then Murphy ran against him and won in 1998, becoming just the second county judge or county executive-mayor at the time to serve more than one stint in the office. Murphy was re-elected in 2002 and served until his resignation on Dec. 31, 2005 to accept a position with the Tennessee Board of Regents.
His more than 15 years in office ranks him third all-time in Scott County, behind W.H. Potter and Verda “Buddy” Cope Jr., each of whom served 16 years. He is also one of just three people, along with Potter and Jeff Tibbals, to serve two separate stints in the office. He is one of five surviving current or former county mayors in Scott County, along with Tibbals, Ricky A. Keeton, Dale Perdue and Jerried Jeffers.
TCAT president
Murphy was appointed president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology’s Oneida-Huntsville campus by the Tennessee Board of Regents in 2005. He succeeded Arvis Blakley, who retired that same year. He resigned his position as Scott County Mayor to accept the new position. He has served in that position for 20 years as of 2025.
During Murphy’s tenure at TCAT, the college experienced significant growth, adding numerous programs. Among the programs added most recently, as of 2025, were Allied Health and Medical Assisting, Earthmoving Equipment Operator, Telecommunications and Underground Construction Technology, Power Line Construction and Maintenance, and Criminal Justice: Corrections Officer.
As of 2025, TCAT Oneida/Huntsville has campuses in Oneida and Huntsville, with a new campus being built in Jamestown. The school operates at satellite campuses in Wartburg and at Clarkrange High School, and dual-enrolls students at high schools throughout Scott, Campbell, Anderson, Morgan and Fentress counties.