When Tom Murphy was 17, his father, without telling his son, enrolled him at North Georgia College.

The former speaker of the Georgia House, who died Monday, said his experience at the college, particularly in the corps of cadets, taught him the discipline he needed.

Murphy was often criticized for his heavy-handed leadership style, but those basic tenets taught in his military college training, honesty and loyalty, were unswerving.

If Murphy was against you, he told you or you knew it. If he was on your side, you could count on his support. There was no middle ground.

Thomas Bailey Murphy held the post of speaker of the House longer than any person in the United States. For 29 years, he held sway over the Georgia House. Murphy was an old- fashioned Roosevelt Democrat, who believed that the government should help the individual in need.

His first experience at the state Capitol was not as a lawmaker, but as a helper for his older brother, James, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis. Young Tom literally carried his brother into the House chambers. A few years later, Tom Murphy was elected to succeed his brother in the seat representing the West Georgia community of Bremen. He held that post for the next 42 years, until he was unseated by a Republican newcomer.

Murphy ruled the state budget with an iron fist and was often a champion of rural causes. But at the same time, he fought for money for Atlanta’s MARTA system and the Georgia World Congress Center.

In addition to securing funds for his alma mater, Murphy aided the Hall County delegation in gaining money for Gainesville State College and Lanier Technical College during their formative years.

He was not telegenic and his gruff demeanor was constant fodder for the Capitol media. But underneath that rough exterior was a man who became a warm grandfather when schoolchildren would come to the rostrum for a picture.

Murphy was the same way about Georgia. He often growled, but he had a heartfelt love for his state and its people.

Many politicians and pundits have said that Murphy was the last of the old school, wool hat politicians that we won’t see again.

Although this, and other newspapers in the state, disagreed with him from time to time, you can’t argue with his record of success.

Now begins the process of remembering and assessing his legacy. Whether you liked him or not, Tom Murphy’s imprint on Georgia is indelibly etched for generations to come.