By Rose Drebes
Edmond Life & Leisure

You get this day and you’ve got to make the most of it.
That’s the conviction of Dana Murphy, one lady who won’t miss a second of living.
“The challenge of this life is what are you going to do with the moments that have been given to you,” she said. “How are you going to make it count?”
For Murphy, that means giving back.

Murphy was born on a ranch in Woodward. She attended Central State University in Edmond where she received the Best All-Around Freshman Athlete Award. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors Degree in Geology.
After practicing as a geologist for 10 years, she went back to law school and earned her degree by attending night school at Oklahoma City University.
While working as an administrative law judge at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for almost six years, she was named Co-Employee of the Year in 1997 and received the Commissioners Public Servant Award in 2001. At the end of 2001, Murphy left her position to work as a consulting geologist and to run for Corporation Commission.
In 2003, she returned to private law practice with an emphasis in title, regulatory practice and oil and gas litigation. She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Oklahoma City Geological Society.
Murphy is also a member of the Energy Advocates and in March, 2007, was recognized as an Outstanding Woman in Energy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Farmers Royalty Company and is a member of the Edmond Chamber of Commerce.
She was vice chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party for four years and is active in the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women.
In her “spare” time, Murphy serves as a care chaplain for the Church of the Servant United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. She is a part-time personal fitness trainer.
She bakes the communion bread for her church’s first service with starter grown in her refrigerator. And, Murphy prays for 100 people each day and is running her second campaign for corporation commissioner.
Sometimes she sleeps, although that’s not a priority or a necessity.
“I’m very much a multi-task person,” Murphy said. “I think I’m really blessed because God made me a really energetic person.”
“I don’t want to waste any moments.”
That incredible work ethic comes from her family, she said.
“My parents really inspired me to go beyond what I thought I could do.”
From her family, she also learned the importance of giving back – without fanfare. That’s how Murphy said she started baking communion bread.
“Each year I try to come up with something I can to quietly,” she said. “If everybody just did a little something, I think the world would be so different.”
Murphy carries a Bible and a copy of the Constitution in her purse. She draws a lot of her inspiration from a part of the scripture recorded in Luke 12:48: “Much is required from those to whom much is given.”
She is taking the calling to heart as she is already on the trail in her campaign for corporation commissioner. From what she called a "whirlwind" tour of southern Oklahoma last week, Murphy said E cubed sums up what she can bring to the position: Energy, Experience, Excellence.
“I’m just a regular person, but I’m qualified for (corporation commissioner) because I am committed to making things better for our state. I have a calling to rise up and make things better.”
“I think of myself as a really committed Oklahoman.”
From her service to the energy industry, Murphy said she realizes the Sooner State is going to have a lot to deal down the road.
“I see a lot of big challenges ahead for our state on the energy front,” Murphy said. “(We need) servant leaders to step up and help us meet and deal with those challenges.”
Meeting Oklahoma’s increasing demand for energy is just one of those challenges Murphy said we must continue to develop alternative resources such as wind power to meet those needs.
Another concern, she said, is taking care of old power lines. Are we going to continue to bury old power lines? How much is it going to cost and who is going to pay for it? are questions she would try to find solutions for if she is elected.
She said another real challenge is to provide Oklahomans with affordable and reliable sources of power.
Through it all, Murphy said she tries to never lose sight of her priorities: faith and family.
“No matter how busy I get, I never lose that perspective,” she said.
Her daily prayers focus on praise, admission, request and thanks as she asks God to help those on her list.
“If nothing else in my day goes right, I’m going to get that right.”
Happiness, she said, is based on a circumstance. But one can find joy and peace anywhere. - Edmond Life & Leisure

The original article can be found here.