Murphy Brothers was founded in 1937 by two teenage brothers Thornton and William Murphy who were too poor to go to college. In the beginning, there was one old dump truck which the brothers loaded with dirt by hand.

Thornton Murphy died in 1967 and since then the company has been run by William, its current president. His son Bill T. Murphy is vice president. Another son, T. Chuck Murphy, is secretary.

The company has seen steady progress and growth through the years, building hundreds of miles of highways in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Murphy crews also have laid miles of sewer pipe in Washington and Idaho.

William O. Murphy said the company's most memorable project was helping build several missile bases around Spokane and Moses Lake.

Today, the company focuses on asphalt paving and municipal jobs around Spokane.