- David Brown/dbrown@cherokeescout.com The Town of Murphy has honored one of its native sons with special sign placements on both ends of the U.S, 19/74 four-lane highway. Carl Pickens was raised in Texana before he became an exceptional wide receiver and led Murphy High School to state football championships in 1986-87; he still owns school records in receptions, yardage and touchdowns. Pickens went on to play with the University of Tennessee, where he was inducted into the Volunteers’ Athletic Hall of Fame