Happy Birthday, Mr. Ralph

Posted on January 9, 2015

If you ask Clerk of Court Annie Mae Murphy what she learned from the many years of working with Ralph Carlton, her reply is quick and decisive: “Everything I know.”

On Thursday, Murphy and members of the courthouse staff honored Carlton with a luncheon in celebration of his 90th birthday. Mention his age, though, and Carlton says: “Shhhh, keep it a secret.” Carlton himself served as clerk of court for seven terms (1960-1988). “He was opposed in his first race and ran unopposed each time after,” Murphy said. Her history with Murphy dates back to 1963 when he hired her to help index all the records in his office. “Once that was done, he offered me a full-time job.” Carlton retired in 1988 but returned to work for Murphy when she was elected clerk. “The first week I was clerk, I hired him,” she said.

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