40-year veteran of Utah 4-H inducted into national 4-H Hall of Fame

John Paul “JP” Murphy, retired Utah State University Extension 4-H youth development specialist, was recently inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame at the organization’s national meetings in Georgia. Murphy worked in the Utah 4-H program and other 4-H programs nationwide for over 40 years. 

Craig Dart, assistant director of Utah 4-H, nominated Murphy and accepted the award on his behalf, due to unexpected health challenges. He said Murphy was a natural for the award after his decades of dedicated service to youth.

“John Paul is a 4-H legend,” he said. “Not just in Utah, but across the nation. I spoke with many people at the awards ceremony who have deep respect and appreciation for the work he’s done. He has the gift to inspire. He would have you rolling out of your seat laughing one minute, and then crying the next. He knew how to motivate people and help them realize there is hope, and you can do better and achieve your dreams. John Paul has inspired, uplifted, and helped mold countless youth over his more than four decades of service. He truly bleeds 4-H green!” 

The 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to recognize 4-H volunteers, Extension professionals, staff, donors, and others who have made a significant impact on the 4-H program through contributions of time, energy, or financial resources at the local, state, or national level. Murphy has done just that. 

When he was 14 years old, he had a mentor and friend, Kim Benson, who asked him what he wanted to do with his life. 

“Well, I wanted to be just like him,” Murphy said. “He made a huge impact on my life, and I wanted to do that for other people for a career!”

Murphy never faltered in his choice.

“This was all against my mother’s wishes,” he laughed. “She wanted me to be a banker. But she came around!”

Murphy graduated from Brigham Young University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in youth development and recreation management and went on to work with multiple youth organizations. 

“But then I found the 4-H program, and it had everything I could want in helping youth in general – with leadership and with life,” he said.

Murphy began his 4-H career in the Uintah Basin before taking on roles in Salt Lake County and later joining the USU Extension state 4-H office in Logan. During his tenure there, he served as both assistant and acting state 4-H program leader, then as youth development specialist, where his skill set helped him influence generations of youth and educators across the state and nation.

Throughout his tenure, Murphy developed innovative leadership and communication programs, trained countless volunteers, and mentored hundreds of 4-H members. He also worked with eight Utah governors. His creativity and passion helped shape Utah 4-H’s approach to positive youth development and inspired similar efforts nationwide.

When asked what he was most proud of during his 40 years with 4-H, Murphy mentioned two programs. 

“The state ambassador program we developed in 1982 has been amazing, and I got to run the national ambassador program for a time as well,” he said. “There was also the Mock Legislature program, where high school students visit the Capitol and role-play as legislators, and they get to see the entire legislative process firsthand. It was and still is such a great experience for those kids. It has been going for 35 years now!”

Murphy was also a nationally recognized motivational speaker, workshop presenter, entertainer, and consultant. He owned his own company, Maximizing People Potential, which he incorporated into his 4-H work. His presentations on leadership, human relations, communications, and group dynamics reached approximately 1.5 million youth and adults throughout the U.S. and Canada. He estimates he has spoken in each state at least three times. 

After working with Murphy, Dan Clark, New York Times best-selling author and one of the top motivational speakers in the world, stated, “People ask me all the time, ‘Who motivates the motivators?’ One of the few speakers who truly inspires and motivates me is John Paul Murphy.”

And as a nod to Clark, Murphy often used one of his phrases in his youth work: “No matter what your past has been, you have a spotless future.”

In his presentations, Murphy would often end by telling the youth that no matter how bad things get, “Remember there’s a fat man in Utah who loves you!”

That message became deeply real when Murphy got a call from a sheriff in Texas who was with a young girl who was planning to end her life.

“Gratefully, the sheriff was able to intervene, and she said she wanted to talk to the fat man in Utah,” Murphy said. “At 4 a.m., they got ahold of me, and we were able to talk through things. We pointed her toward the help she needed, and she ended up working through her difficulties.”

Though situations like that were sobering, Murphy said youth work is absolutely the most rewarding work out there. 

“I love these kids dearly – they are my people,” he said. “It was such an honor and a complete surprise to receive this award. Getting to represent the incredible youth and adults of Utah 4-H through this Hall of Fame award is one of the greatest honors of my life.”