Funeral services set for football coach Gene Murphy

A funeral mass for Gene Murphy, the former Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College football coach who died Saturday in Los Angeles, will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Juliana Falconieri Church (1316 N. Acacia) in Fullerton. Details regarding a reception will be available at the church.

Murphy, one of the most personable, engaging and quotable coaches in Orange County sports history, had undergone surgery for cancer of the esophagus last Tuesday and was recovering in the intensive care unit of USC University Hospital when he died Saturday. He was 72.

Murphy coached at Cal State Fullerton from 1980 until the program was discontinued in 1992. He led the Titans to two Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. championships and an 11-1 record and a top-20 national ranking in 1984.

He took over at Fullerton College in 1993 and remained there until 2007, still maintaining an office on campus as a consultant for the athletic department. He was inducted into Cal State Fullerton's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Bruce Bowen, Brent Mayne to be honored by Cal State Fullerton

Cal State Fullerton will induct six people into the Titan Hall of Fame Saturday night, including former NBA guard Bruce Bowen and former major league catcher Brent Mayne.

Bowen played at Fullerton from 1989 to 1993. He spent 13 seasons in the NBA, eight with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was part of three NBA championship teams. Bowen was named to the NBA’s all-defensive team eight times.

During his NBA career, Bowen was known for this and for that.

Mayne played 15 major league seasons with eight teams, including the Dodgers in 2004. He played at Fullerton in 1988 and 1989, where he was named an All-American. Mayne was taken by the Kansas City Royals as the 13th player overall in the major league draft.

Also being inducted:

Sue Lewis-Newton, who played softball at Fullerton from 1981 to 1984 and was a three-time All-American. Fullerton finished second nationally once and third twice during her career.

Lynn Rogers, who was the women’s gymnastics coach from 1976 to 2000. Fullerton won the 1979 national title and finished second three times and third five times.

Boosters Jerry and Merilyn Goodwin, who donated the lead gift to expand Fullerton’s baseball stadium, now named Goodwin Field.

-- Chris Foster