John Murdy — a face familiar to just about anyone who spends time on Last Chance Gulch — was named the July Spirit of Helena Award recipient, a joint recognition from the City of Helena and the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce. The announcement came at the September 8 City Commission meeting.
Murdy's official job title doesn't capture the full scope of what he does around town. He works as a swamper at 10 Mile Creek Brewery and the Hawthorne, empties trash for the Business Improvement District, and cleans the Myrna Loy theater after shows. But the award citation went further, recognizing dozens of informal acts of service that never appear on any job description — the kind of work that keeps a small city feeling like a community.
The Spirit of Helena Award is given monthly and is intended to recognize residents whose contributions might otherwise go unnoticed by official channels. Murdy fits that description precisely. His work happens in the margins of the day — before the crowds arrive, after they leave — and the city thought it was worth saying out loud that it matters.