Stephen was working as an accountant at Coopers and Lybrand in Halifax when Danny suggested to him that there were emerging opportunities with the pending opening of a Tim Horton’s outlet in Ottawa. He made the same suggestion to D’Arcy who was working with Imperial Oil, also in Halifax, when a further opportunity to purchase a franchise in Saint John came along, Danny also suggested to Joey, who was then operating a KFC franchise in Moncton, that he might do better with a new Tim’s in Ottawa. Between the four of them, they operate some of the most successful franchises in Canada.

Kathleen and Bill took an active interest in the progress of each of their children. In the early 1980s, when Kevin and Danny were just getting into business, they would pack Joey in the backseat of the car after supper and take a drive to check out the number of cars in the parking lots

at The Barn in Southport and the Tim Hortons outlets on University Avenue and Kent Street.

The importance of frugality was also impressed upon them as children. With his savings from his job at Canada Packers, Shawn bought his first car, a one—year old 1968 Dodge Dart for $2800. Danny’s first car was a 1963 Studebaker which he bought for $350 from his savings on odd jobs around town. (For those who had not yet purchased their own car, a sign— up sheet was hung by the kitchen door where they could indicate when the family car was needed.)

Kevin, along with his girlfriend Kathy Costello, bought an apartment house on Centennial Drive in Sherwood while he was still in university. They bought it with money he had saved and with a portion of her student loan. Michael, who was working at various jobs from the age

of 12, saved up enough money in his first year to buy a 10—speed bike. Money was not plentiful in the Murphy household, and each of the children learned at an early age that if they wanted something they would have to go out and earn it. They also found their way around obstacles that would have deterred others. One summer when he was just turning 16, Kevin got a job as a lifeguard at the provincial park in Panmure Island. There was only one problem: Panmure Island was more than 40 miles away and Kevin had no way to get there. So he hitchhiked there and back for the summer, and rarely was late for work.

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