The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is pleased to present the Lifetime Leadership Award in Fitness and Sports to Bob Murphy.
Bob founded the event that is now known as the Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge and State Agency Race in 1980. An Agency of Transportation Engineer and avid runner , Bob had the foresight to see the need to bring state employees together to participate in an event for a fun competition. A communication issued by Bob following the very first race in 1980 states “ Some have suggested this be an annual event and that ways of encouraging even greater participation should be pursued. If there is enough interest in repeating the event we’ll surely do so.” He never imagined that this even, with an initial turnout of 23 runners, would evolve to the second largest road race in the state with numbers exceeding 4,500 in 2019.
Bob continued to commit to this race as it evolved, changed, and grew working with various partners including the State of Vermont, Central Vermont Runners Club, Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and others over a period of 32 plus years (1980 till his retirement from the Corporate Cup Committee 2012). Bob remained available to offer his expertise and still registers a team every year for the Corporate Cup Challenge.
Bob’s history and commitment to the Central Vermont Runners Club remains legendary as he continues to stay involved and hold crucial positions within the organization to this day.
Longtime race committee member and former Council member Mike Feulner presented the Lifetime Leadership Award in Fitness and Sports to Bob Murphy in March 2021.