William Tayloe Murphy Jr. (January 9, 1933 – September 15, 2021) was a Virginia lawyer and Democratic politician who served part time as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 99 (his native Northern Neck) between 1982 and 2000, as well as Secretary of Natural Resources under Governor Mark Warner from 2002-2006.

In 1954 he was commissioned an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve and served aboard the USS Newport News and on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.

Murphy's main legislative accomplishment during those 18 years was the passage of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act in 1986 and its renewal in 1996, despite the political peril of imposing state authority on local land use decisions in his conservative district.

He also sponsored legislation regulating nutrient runoff from agricultural feedlots and boat paint pesticides into Chesapeake Bay.

In their semi-retirement, the Murphys worked to preserve Menokin, the historic home of Francis Lightfoot Lee and the surrounding wildlife habitat.

[7] They also helped renovate the 1930s era restaurant at Westmoreland State Park (built by the Civilian Conservation Corps) into a conference and environmental education center, which was named for them.