Michael Dennis Murphy, owner of Murphy Auto Group, recently announced that the group would be altering the name of the Bob Richards brand of dealerships they acquired in 2018.
Those dealerships will now fall under the Miracle Auto Group moniker.
While the name and signage will be changing, the product and service will not, said Sylvana Murphy, who is in the PR department of the Murphy Auto Group and is also Michael’s wife.
During the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Convention in Augusta on Nov. 4, Murphy announced the change.
“These dealerships […] will now become part of the ‘Miracle’ family,” Murphy said before introducing Tim Tebow as the convention’s honoree for the evening.
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The story behind the ‘Miracle’ name starts back in 2009, when Dennis Murphy, Michael’s father, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The Murphy family was told that Dennis had two years to live. However, Dennis Murphy battled back and survived until Aug 28, 2020, almost 12 years more than his original diagnoses dictated.
Sylvana said the family has always had a strong faith and wanted to honor the miracle their family experienced with the ‘Miracle’ name.
The auto group renamed their Florida store in Haines City, Fla. to reflect this “miracle,” and the name will now pass over state lines to five total Miracle dealerships and “hopefully many more,” according to a press release from Murphy Auto Group.
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Dec. 1 marked the official change-over, and a number of ribbon-cuttings will soon take place as the group partners with Chamber of Commerce chapters located near the auto group’s branch locations.
The production of new signage is currently underway and the official imagery has already been revealed.
The ‘1979’ listed on the crest signifies the year that the late Dennis Murphy created the auto group.
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Michael Murphy also recently published a book about his father’s wisdom, entitled ‘Dennisisms: Leadership Lessons I Learned from my Father.’
“Dennis played professional baseball for the Dodgers, and he loved the GreenJackets and the golf here,” Sylvana Murphy said. “Michael is a great supporter of the GreenJackets and golf was Dennis’ number one passion. A lot of the lessons Michael learned from his dad are in the book.”
While Bob Richards’ name will no longer be on the signs, the Richards family is still involved with the car business. Sylvana Murphy said Bob Richards, Sr. works in the main office for the group.
Shane Claffey, advisor to the CEO for the group, said, “Even the 90-year-old Mr. Richards is still there everyday.”
Miracle Nissan of North Augusta is located at 5590 Jefferson Davis Hwy. and Miracle Toyota is next door at 5512 Jefferson Davis Hwy.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
