A Life Shrouded in Mystery
Murph Harrold hailed from Dundee, Texas, where he was born in 1909. It was in this region that poker was being cultivated in saloons and ranches. Growing up, he was immersed in an environment where cards weren't just a pastime but a fight for survival—Texas farmers and cowboys often gambled everything for honor and money.
About his career, we only know that he was a road gambler—nomadic players roaming the USA in search of high stakes. He primarily played in Texas and Louisiana, where he later owned a hotel, restaurant, and nightclub. By the early fifties, he started frequenting Las Vegas, where he played against many poker greats. However, there are no additional records of his life, family, birth, or death that can be traced.
The Deuce-to-Seven Lowball Master
Harrold was regarded as one of the best deuce-to-seven draw lowball players of all time—a game where players aim to assemble the weakest hand. This game requires memory, patience, and psychology, areas in which Harrold excelled. His death came in 1966, so he never had the chance to participate in any WSOP tournaments. But his reputation didn't need it. Among peers, he was a legend who outmatched high roller players during the era when lowball dominated the saloons.
Induction into the Hall of Fame
In 1984, Murph Harrold was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, the only member in that year's class. This was a tribute to his longstanding dominance in deuce-to-seven lowball and the respect he garnered from peers. The Hall of Fame criteria—playing against top competitors, high stakes, consistent performance, and timelessness—were all met by Harrold. Benny Binion, founder of the WSOP, chose him as a symbol of the old school when lowball was a favored discipline. His induction came symbolically as poker was transitioning to Hold'em. In a hall full of legends, Harrold remains a reminder: poker is about mastery, not fame.
More from the Legends of PHoF
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame XI: Joe Bernstein
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame X: Tom Abdo
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame IX: Bill Boyd
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame VIII: T. "Blondie" Forbes
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame VII: James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame VI: Sid Wyman
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame V: Red Winn
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame IV: Edmond Hoyle
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame III: Felton "Corky" McCorquodale
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame II: Nick "The Greek" Dandolos
Legends of the Poker Hall of Fame I: Johnny Moss
Sources: Wikipedia, WSOP, Poker Omnibus
