It’s impossible to discuss Doc Morgan’s brother, Bill Morgan Jr., without acknowledging Bill Morgan Sr., a huge influence on both of them, personally and professionally. He was a marvelous musician (jazz/swing music), full-time before the Depression, passionate amateur thereafter. Their house was full of music, especially, big band music (Benny Goodman!), so it was natural that Bill and Doc would be attracted to instruments – sax, in Bill’s case (alto at first, because that’s what Bill Sr. had; later, tenor).
Bill went on to attend TCU, acquiring Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees (Music Education). It was in the TCU band that Bill met the love of his life, Nyla. They wed in 1958. Bill became very active musically in DFW, notably as 1st tenor with Fletcher Hereford’s popular society big band (in which one of his bandmates was DocFest-good-friend, Marvin Stamm; Doc would later play trumpet and piano with Hereford).
Though gifted as a performer, Bill enthusiastically embraced music education for his professional focus. He was the founding Band Director at Dallas’s W. T. White High School (1964), remaining for ten years, with many successful ex-students, musically and otherwise. During his White tenure, he received the “Outstanding Young Educator” award, chosen from all Dallas Independent School District high school faculties. Bill went on to become Coordinator of Music, D. I. S. D. and held several additional administrative positions, culminating in D. I. S. D. Executive Director of Human Resources, from which he retired in 2000.
In 2002, Bill and Nyla retired to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, where they quickly became “Mr. and Mrs. Music” in The Village. Among Bill’s activities was leader of the Village Big Band, an excellent “hobby band” for which Doc wrote several charts (one of which will be performed at the DocFest Holiday Concert!). They were both members of the Village Concert Band, Chorus, various church choirs, etc.
Bill an1d Nyla had three children. Deborah Morgan-Stokes was their first child. Her college choice was TCU, where she played clarinet in marching and concert bands. Deborah’s initial career was as an English teacher in the Dallas I. S. D. After a few years, she received a calling and enrolled at Vanderbilt Divinity School, emerging with a Master of Divinity degree. Reverend Morgan has since served churches in Tennessee and Arizona, and, before retiring, served for 18 years in her home town as Senior Minister at East Dallas Christian Church.
Second child was “the other” Robert Morgan, also an alumnus of TCU (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Radio/Television/Film) and also a member of TCU bands (tuba and sax). Upon graduating, Robert experienced his own calling and joined Deborah in enrolling at Vanderbilt, also receiving the Master of Divinity degree. Robert served in one pastorate (Associate Minister, First Christian Church, Valdosta, Georgia) before realizing his spiritual path lay elsewhere, specifically in social services. He is currently on the staff at Harmony Family Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he is able to combine his R/T/F and ministerial backgrounds, producing films that amplify the needs of thousands of foster children living throughout Tennessee.
Their third child is Ralph Morgan, another alumnus of TCU (Bachelor of Music Education). Though all three Morgans were/are gifted musicians, Ralph is the only one to pursue music as a vocation. After TCU, he attended Northwestern University, attaining the Master of Music degree and Certificate of Performance in Bassoon. He then settled in DFW, and, in addition to performing, became a very successful band director, climaxing in 15 years at Dallas’s prestigious W. E. Greiner Middle School Fine Arts Academy. Two amazing coincidences: Doc attended Greiner! (then Greiner Junior High); Doc’s Granddaughter Morgan also attended Greiner! (Fine Arts Academy/Theatre).
Upon retiring, Ralph has become an even-busier freelancer and manages a bassoon/ oboe repair shop. Ralph will also be performing with the Big Band at the DocFest Holiday Concert.
DocFest Houston 