body
WHEREAS, Eli, the son of Jen Murphy and Ann Belser, is a 14-year old student and resident of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood who finished 8th grade at Colfax School this year and is going into his first year at Allderdice High School; and,
WHEREAS, in 2007, Eli won the Little Marbles King at Allegheny County’s Little Marbles Tournament at the age of four and subsequently won the Allegheny County Marbles Tournament in 2014, 2015, and 2017. His 2015 victory was notable because he had recently broken his left arm, requiring him to balance on his elbow rather than his outstretched arm; and,
WHEREAS, his victory in the 2017 Allegheny County Marbles Tournament earned him a spot in the 94th National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood, New Jersey, during which competitors, known as “mibsters,” play more than 1,200 games and compete for scholarships and national honors; and,
WHEREAS, by winning six consecutive games, Eli came back from a seven-to-one deficit to win the best-of-fifteen series eight games to seven; and,
WHEREAS, Eli was declared the champion of the boy division of the 94th National Marbles Tournament, making him the 32nd national champion from Allegheny County; and,
WHEREAS, along with Shaler’s Sierra Ricci, the national champion of the girls division, Eli helped to demolish and rebuild a marbles ring on a paper street on Pittsburgh’s Southside Slopes, and the future champions used it to practice before the National Tournament; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Eli Murphy for achieving the title of champion of the boys division of the 94th National Marbles Tournament and for creating a place for Pittsburgh’s kids to learn and appreciate the game of marbles; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare July 18th, 2017 to be "Eli Murphy Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.