Royse Peak Murphy, born May 2, 1914 in Norton Kansas, endured the Dust Bowl, graduated with a B.S. degree from Kansas State College in 1936 and M.S and Ph.D degrees from the University of Minnesota in 1938 and 1941, respectively. After faculty assignments at Minnesota, service in WWII and Montana State he joined the Cornell faculty in 1946. His research as a plant breeder produced publications on crops such as corn, flax, oats alfalfa and timothy. His work involved international collaboration and travel. His honors include fellow status in The American Society of Agronomy and The Crop Science Society of America. University leadership roles included department head of plant breeding, Dean of the University Faculty (1964-1967) and member of the Cornell University Board of Trustees (1967-1970). Although he ‘retired in 1979, he remained and active participant in his emeritus faculty role, including mastering the dramatic changes in methodology of his field.