This Day in Gwinnett History: Reg Murphy Held Hostage in Lilburn

Happy 50th birthday to the Reg Murphy kidnapping! On this day in 1974, Reg Murphy (seen in the AP photo above), was kidnapped by William Williams of Lilburn. At the time, Murphy was editor of the AJC, then known as the Atlanta Constitution. William Williams (nickname Bill Bills?) claimed to be a member of a right-wing militia called the American Revolutionary Army and was apparently upset about the AJC's leftist leanings, but the main motive for the kidnapping might have been the $700,000 ransom. Murphy spent the better part of three days in Williams' trunk and was released when the AJC decided to pony up the dough. Williams was arrested 6 hours later at his house in Lilburn and the FBI quickly recovered the money. Reg Murphy would go on to be editor and CEO of other major newspapers, CEO of National Geographic, and president of the US Golf Association.

The AJC photo above shows William Williams post-arrest, on the left in the white jacket. Head over to our friends at the AJC for the full story:

https://www.ajc.com/news/years-later-kidnapper-apologizes-for-holding-atlanta-editor-captive/tQhI9gjjcTg2YlcxfTySUP/