society in 1923, the university celebrated its first homecoming parade in 1924, and students organized the first Gator Growl pep rally and variety show in 1925. While president of Florida, Murphree became a friend of William Jennings Bryan, the former U.S. Representative from Nebraska and the Democratic Party nominee for President in 1896, 1900 and 1908. Bryan established a winter residence in Miami, Florida in 1912, and became a full-time Florida resident in 1921. Bryan was a frequent speaker throughout Florida, and first met Murphree at a speech at the university in 1916. As a result of his friendship with Murphree, Bryan volunteered to be the fund-raising drive chairman for the construction of the university's new Florida Union building (now known as Dauer Hall). Murphree's name was floated as a possible gubernatorial candidate on several occasions, but he publicly disavowed any personal interest in elected office. Without consulting Murphree in advance, on January 13, 1924, William Jennings Bryan announced his candidacy to be a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention, where, if elected, he would nominate Murphree as the party's candidate for President of the United States in the 1924 election. Bryan campaigned vigorously despite Murphree's steadfast refusal to do so as a candidate. Murphree stated that he was flattered by Bryan's effort, but "Nobody expects a Southern man to be nominated President, much less a Florida man." Florida newspapers urged Murphree to run, but few others took his candidacy seriously. Bryan was elected as a delegate to the Democratic Convention, pledged to support Murphree's nomination, but Bryan was greeted by boos and jeers at the convention because of his nomination of Murphree. Bryan later told Senator J. Thomas Heflin that his reception by his fellow convention delegates was the most humiliating of his life. Murphree was elected president of the National Association of State Universities in 1927. Death and legacy Murphree died unexpectedly in his sleep, at the age of 57, in Gainesville on December 20, 1927. His wife Jennie had died six years earlier in 1921. They are both buried in St. John's Episcopal Church cemetery in downtown Tallahassee, only a few blocks from Florida State University. Murphree and his wife were survived by four children––two sons, John A.H. Murphree and Albert A. Murphree, Jr., and two daughters, Alberta Murphree Worth and Martha Murphree Wallace. Murphree's daughter Martha graduated from Florida State College for Women with a