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Longtime WCCO Radio Newsman Retiring

Steve Murphy

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Steve Murphy says he's looking forward to staying up past 7:30 p.m.

As morning anchor and managing editor for WCCO Radio, Murphy's day begins long before the sun comes up. He arrives to work at 3 a.m., preparing the morning's news for WCCO Radio listeners.

But that comes to an end with 2013. Murphy has informed WCCO Radio management that he will retire at the end of the year.

"My wife Monica retired from her nursing in job in November," Murphy said. "I decided to join her after my 33 years at WCCO."

As the longest tenured newsperson at WCCO Radio, Murphy has seen a lot, and accomplished even more. In 1984, he received a George Foster Peabody Award for his report on organ donation. In 2010, the Northwest Broadcast News Association honored Murphy with the Mitchell V. Charnley Award for outstanding contributions to the field of broadcast journalism. Fellow recipients include Tom Brokaw, Harry Reasoner, Edwin Newman, and Eric Sevareid.

But Murphy may be most valuable as a solid, steady voice in the WCCO Radio newsroom.

"He'll be sorely missed," said Mick Anselmo, Senior Vice President and Market Manager for CBS Radio Minneapolis. "(Steve) is a wonderful example of a professional radio journalist with a great sense of news, a confident, soothing but direct delivery and an uncompromising work ethic that will be difficult to duplicate."

In addition to that, Murphy is about the nicest guy around and, who in 33 years at WCCO, amassed a nearly-perfect attendance record. The man doesn't know what a sick-day is.

Murphy's love for news and broadcasting started when he was in the US Navy.

"At sea, I volunteered to work in the public affairs office on board an aircraft carrier just for something to do, and I fell in love with the communications field," Murphy said.

After a career of reporting the news, Murphy made the news just last month, after he was attacked and robbed while walking to his bus stop in South Minneapolis. He says that wasn't a factor in his decision to retire, but rather, the early hours.

"It's not getting mugged at 2:30 in the morning (that was a reason for his decision), it's coming to work at 2:30 in the morning," Murphy said.

Murphy said he'll enjoy sleeping in and his family is good with his decision.

"My kids could not be happier with my retirement. I think it's because they need a babysitter for our five grandkids," Murphy said.

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