Charles J. Rike Memorial Library, Farmersville, Texas.

If you happen to travel to Farmersville, Texas, you may want to stop and visit the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library which is located at 203 Orange Street, Farmersville, Texas. When you do, you will discover a surprising amount of information about Audie Murphy which include displays, memorabilia, photographs, newspaper clippings, and drawings.

The original bronze sculpture which was used to cast the full-size twelve foot Audie Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital statue in San Antonio, Texas is located inside the Farmersville library.

There is also an interesting hand made plaque with a clock donated to the libary by Mr. Audie B. Evans, Jr. The clock is described in a 1997 Farmersville Times newspaper article (click here to read article).

The significance of the clock comes from the fact that Audie Murphy was named after the father of the clock's creator. According to the Farmersville Librarian, Ms. Pansy Hundley, Audie Murphy was named after Mr. Audie B. Evans Sr. who worked on the road near Audie's birthplace. Mr. Evans sometimes helped Audie's mother, Mrs. Josie Killian Bell Murphy, by performing various jobs including picking up groceries for her when he was in town. In gratitude, Mrs. Murphy later asked him if she could name her baby after him when he was born.

According to Harold Simpson's biography, AUDIE MURPHY, AMERICAN SOLDIER, Mrs. Murphy also had some neighbors named Mr. and Mrs. Audie Lee West. Mrs. Audie Lee West attended to Mrs. Murphy during the birth of her son. Colonel Simpson speculated in his manuscript notes that Audie was named after both Mr. Audie B. Evans, Sr. and Mr. Audie Lee West. Unfortunately, Colonel Simpson in an oversight forgot to include the information on Audie B. Evans, Sr. when he wrote and published the final version of his book.

Both Audie Murphy's sister, Nadene, and his oldest son, Terry, agree that both Audie Evans, Sr. and Audie West figured prominently in Mrs. Murphy's life at the time of Audie Murphy's birth. Moreover, the name "Audie" was not uncommon to northeast Texas back during the time Audie was born. Because the regionally popular name probably appealed to Mrs. Murphy and because the two men befriended her when she was in need of help, Mrs. Murphy probably decided to name her child after both of the kind-hearted gentlemen.

A photograph of Audie B. Evans, Senior, circa 1920's. Photo provided by Audie B. Evans, Jr.

The Audie Evans, Jr. clock donatated to the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library. Photo by Jim Foy.

Audie Murphy memorabilia display at the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library, Farmersville, Texas. Photo source: Charles J. Rike Memorial Library.

Photography, newspaper articles, and information display on Audie Murphy at the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library, Farmersville, Texas. Photo provided by Jim Foy.

Audie Murphy memorabilia display at the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library, Farmersville, Texas. Photo source: Charles J. Rike Memorial Library.

Audie Murphy memorabilia display at the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library, Farmersville, Texas. Photo source: Charles J. Rike Memorial Library.

Audie Murphy memorabilia display at the Charles J. Rike Memorial Library, Farmersville, Texas. Photo source: Charles J. Rike Memorial Library.

Audie Murphy sculpture used to create the San Antonio Audie Murphy Veterans Memorial Hospital statue in 1991. Photo source: Charles J. Rike Memorial Library.