Well-known Sacramento attorney Robert “Bob” Murphy and his wife, Kinzie, a Sacramento-based speech pathologist, have been selected as the 2014 recipients of the Charles J. Soderquist Award at °ϲĻϢ Davis — the highest volunteer award given by the °ϲĻϢ Davis Foundation Board of Trustees.
Bob has served as an attorney-of-counsel for Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard Law Corporation. The firm represents the city of West Sacramento, the Sacramento Yolo Port District, Capital Area Development Authority and the Downtown Sacramento Revitalization Corporation, among other clients. Kinzie is a speech pathologist with a private practice in Sacramento and is a lecturer and clinical instructor in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at California State University, Sacramento, where she established the Speech Pathology Faculty and Alumni Scholarship for graduate students. Bob graduated from °ϲĻϢ Davis in 1963 and Kinzie in 1964.
“We are both so honored by this recognition,” Bob said, “We credit °ϲĻϢ Davis with our professional success and are proud to have family members who are fellow Aggies.”
The Soderquist Award was named in honor of the late Charles “Charley” Soderquist — a °ϲĻϢ Davis alumnus, former chair of the °ϲĻϢ Davis Foundation, and well-known Sacramento-area entrepreneur and philanthropist. The award, which was created by a philanthropic gift from the Soderquist estate, recognizes exceptional volunteer leadership and support of philanthropy at °ϲĻϢ Davis, and honors °ϲĻϢ Davis supporters whose efforts as volunteers have made a significant and lasting impact on the university.
“As long-time friends of Charley, receiving this award named for him is a special honor,” Kinzie added. “It’s a way to continue his and our commitment to support the students and programs at °ϲĻϢ Davis.”
The Murphys have given to numerous programs to °ϲĻϢ Davis over the past four decades, but they are particularly passionate about supporting students. They have supported scholarships through the °ϲĻϢ Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association since 1985, and endowed their own scholarship in 1999. They recently created an additional scholarship to support former foster youth in continuing their education to become teachers, called the Murphy Guardian Teachers Scholarship in the School of Education.
The Murphys were inspired by the example of the 2013 Soderquist Award winner Sandi Redenbach ’72, Cred. ’73, who donated her award winnings to support the School of Education’s Guardian Teachers Scholarship. Matching the Murphys’ gift, the Kronick law firm has also created a Guardian Teachers Scholarship, in recognition of the School of Education and the firm’s prominent role in education in California.
In addition, Bob has been an exceptional volunteer since he was an undergraduate and served as class president and student body president. Over the years he has served as a regent of the University of California, chair of the °ϲĻϢ Davis Foundation Board of Trustees, president of the CAAA, chair of the Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center capital campaign and chair of the Davis Chancellor’s Club. He has also served on the Center for the Arts Campaign steering committee, the °ϲĻϢ Davis Medical Center leadership council and on multiple committees for the °ϲĻϢ Davis Foundation. In 2002, the CAAA awarded Bob the Jerry W. Fielder Memorial Award in recognition of his service.
The Soderquist Award comes with a $5,000 prize for recipients to give to the university program or area of their choice. Bob and Kinzie have chosen to donate their prize to create The George and Adele Nickel Family Scholarship for Education in Production Agriculture for undergraduate students in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Kinzie’s family history of farming in the San Joaquin Valley for six generations and Bob’s expertise in land use and urban development have fueled their passion for supporting sustainable food systems.
The George and Adele Nickel Family Scholarship for Education in Production Agriculture will be fully endowed at $30,000 thanks to additional gifts from Adele Nickel, the Nickel family and friends.
“Bob and Kinzie have continually been among the most dedicated campus citizens, always championing the university among the greater °ϲĻϢ Davis community and beyond,” said Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations and President of the °ϲĻϢ Davis Foundation Board Shaun Keister. “With integrity, grace, humor and compassion, they have been remarkably consistent and ardent advocates for the university for more than four decades. We are very fortunate to have these tireless and dedicated Aggies.”
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Sarah Colwell, 530-752-9842, sccolwell@ucdavis.edu