Daniel Patrick Murphy came from Ireland by way of Thomas, West Virginia, and for almost 30 years he served as a spiritual father and friend in the hills of West Virginia. His parishioners watched before the blessed sacrament around the clock, and his telephone call to the president of the mill often got a job for a needy man. He left his deathbed to help dedicate Madonna High School, the fulfillment of his dream. He was remembered as showing people how to live and how to die. He died September 19, 1955.