Publisher of Two Arizona Newspapers Will ‘Move On’

Pat Murphy, 60, publisher of the Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Gazette, resigned Tuesday, saying he had reached an age at which he felt it was time to move on.

Murphy was publisher of the two newspapers for 3 1/2 years and had spent 14 years before that on the Republic’s staff. “I’ve gotten as much satisfaction as a publisher could have,” he said, adding that it was time “to take a breather.”

The president of Central Newspapers Inc., the Indianapolis company that controls the two Phoenix newspapers, said a search for Murphy’s successor would begin immediately. Central Newspapers Inc. is owned by the Pulliam family and includes Vice President Dan Quayle as one of its owners.

Murphy said he did not have “the vaguest idea” what he’d do next but was stepping down immediately. “I’ll be out of there this week,” he said. “Why hang around?”

Murphy took an active role as publisher, describing maverick Republican Gov. Evan Mecham as a brutish, ideological juggernaut even as Mecham attacked the newspapers and their reporting. Mecham, who was ousted by an Arizona Senate Court of Impeachment last year, said, “Good news,” when told of Murphy’s resignation.