I-20 also known as Tom Murphy Freeway.

March 4, 2008 - When traveling on I-20 from Atlanta to Douglasville, just passing over I-285 you will notice a sign "Tom Murphy Freeway". For my wife and her family growing up in Georgia, Tom Murphy was sort-of a household name. It was during the 1970's, 80's and 90's that Tom Murphy was Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives of the Georgia General Assembly. He served a total of forty-two years in the Georgia legislature.

Whenever I pass the sign on I-20, I am reminded of the great contributions that Tom Murphy made to Georgia politics. Even though he was from a primarily rural area, Haralson County, Georgia, he probably had more influence than any single individual in developing what is now modern Metro Atlanta. During his time as Speaker of the House, Murphy helped to approve funding for MARTA and Georgia Highways. He was the sponsor of legislation for the construction of the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome.

When I used to practice law in Villa Rica, Georgia, I had the good fortune of meeting Tom Murphy in a case which we litigated about ten years ago. I met Mr. Murphy at the Haralson County Courthouse in Buchanan Georgia. It had come as a surprise to him to meet me, as an attorney with the same name as his beloved brother, James Murphy whom he practiced law with in Bremen in during the 1950's and early 1960's. Although he was well into his seventies, I learned very quickly that Mr. Murphy still had a sharp mind and was quite a zealous advocate for his client. I was saddened to learn that he had passed away on December 17, 2007, and I was left to wonder whether any single individual could ever have an effect on Georgia politics equal to that of Tom Murphy.