RAY MURPHY TO RECEIVE MEDAL OF COURAGE FROM HALL OF FAME 
 One minute he was an active, healthy young wrestler, competing in a national tournament in his home arena. The next moment he was a quadriplegic, paralyzed for life when slammed to the mat with a broken neck and a severed spinal cord. 
 For most, such a tragic accident would have marked the end of a life. For Ray Murphy, it marked the beginning of a whole new world, one with many difficult challenges to be met and defeated. 
 For his success in overcoming those obstacles, and his courageous struggle against overwhelming odds, Murphy has been voted the 1998 Medal of Courage of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 
 The award will be presented at the 22nd Honors Banquet June 6. Amputee wrestler Dock Kelly, the 1997 winner, will return to make the presentation. 
 A state champion wrestler at Nathan Hale High School in Tulsa, Murphy was an All-American for Oklahoma State in 1968 and Õ69, reaching the NCAA finals his senior year. His injury occurred in 1971 during the USA Wrestling national freestyle championships in OSUÕs Gallagher Hall. 
 Although he has been gripped by paralysis for more than 25 years, and still requires mechanical assistance in breathing, he has led a remarkable life. His mother, Ferol, has been at his side constantly. 
 University students, who have never met him but claim him as one of their own, contribute handsomely to his support by taking up an annual collection during a home football game. 
 Already a business graduate of OSU, Murphy earned another degree in computer programming at Tulsa Junior College. There he was magna cum laude with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He never missed a class, never was even late to class. At graduation ceremonies in 1988, he led the procession in his sip-and-puff wheelchair. 
 Because of the importance of sip-and-puff technology, which Ray uses to operate his computer and other amenities, he has become a national leader in research of new additions to this technique. He also has been employed as a computer programmer by Phillips 66 and other corporations. 
 In 1989, Ray received national recognition as Handicapped Person of the Year.