Murphy Center
Just beyond the end zone of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, an imposing figure fills the skyline. The Murphy Center, a 52,475 square-foot edifice, houses the strength and condition- ing facilities for the ECU athletics program, along with banquet rooms and sport memorabilia. ECU’s strength and conditioning programs for its student-ath- letes are based out of the 22,000 square-foot first floor. The Mur- phy Center was built for approximately $13 million and opened its doors to ECU student-athletes in June 2002. The building was officially dedicated on September 13, 2002. The second floor of the building features a private dining area for recruits as well as a 9,000-square-foot banquet hall and large terrace with a view of the the football stadium for Pirate Club functions. Scattered throughout the facility is a stunning array of photo murals, sport memorabilia and trophies. The Murphy Center is named in honor of Pete and Lynn Murphy of Rose Hill, N.C. Pete attended ECU and has been a major contributor to the ECU Educational Foundation as an Endowment Member and has served on the Foundation’s execu- tive committee. He is the former president/owner of Quarter M Farms of Rose Hill and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Murphy Family Farms. He also oversaw the Murphy family’s development of River Landing, a gated golf community located just outside of Wallace, N.C. Pete and Lynn, an East Caro- lina University graduate, have two sons, Stratton and Marc. Named areas within the facility are: the Walter and Marie Williams Strength and Conditioning Area; the C. Felix and Mar- garet Blount Harvey Ban- quet Hall; the Robert and Virginia Maynard Lobby; and the Bill and Emily Furr Lobby. Because of its location behind the Bagwell Field at Dowdy-Ficklen end zone and its connection to Min- ges Coliseum, the Murphy Center is an ideal place for Pirate Club members to socialize at both football and basketball games.
