William A. "Bill" Morgan Jr.'s Obituary
William Adams Morgan Jr, (Bill), born October 5, 1935, deceased December 18, 2023, was born in Houston, Tx, where he attended Houston public schools (Roberts Elementary, Pershing Junior High and Lamar High School) and attended South End Christian Church/Bethany Christian Church [Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)]. His family moved to Dallas his senior year, where his family joined Rosemont Christian Church in Oak Cliff and graduated from Sunset High School. While his time was limited at Sunset High School, he made the most of the opportunity as a commissioned Lieutenant in the ROTC Band, and quickly was appointed as ROTC Drum Major/Student Leader.
Bill earned a scholarship to study instrumental music at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Tx in 1954, where he would eventually meet and marry the love of his life, Nyla K Baker. He served as a student assistant director during his time at TCU and received the outstanding bandsman award in 1957. He graduated from TCU with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1958 and Master of Music, with an emphasis in both instrumental and choral music in 1960. He also served as President of the Disciples Student Fellowship on campus.
Bill had a rewarding teaching career in Forney and Dallas ISD. After teaching at Spence Jr High, he was appointed as the first band director of W.T. White High School, Dallas ISD, in the Fall of 1964. He received the Outstanding Young Educator award for Dallas senior high schools during his time at W. T. White. He also served as president of the Dallas Music Educators Association for the band division. After a 10 year teaching career, Bill was offered the opportunity to move to an administrative position in the Dallas Schools which led to a 30 year career in administration for the DISD. These positions included Personnel Recruiter for Band and Orchestra directors; Coordinator of Music Education for all grades K-12 and Personnel Director/Director of Employment for the district's workforce. Bill retired as Executive Director of Human Resources for the DISD in 2000.
Bill served in the Air National Guard as a musician in the reserve band. Bill and his wife Nyla joined Northway Christian Church in Dallas in 1960, where he was an active lay leader, serving as Elder and chair of the board, as well as serving periodically as Music Director of the church from 1980-2002. He also served as President of the Dallas Area Association of the Christian Church, and gave personnel guidance to the regional Christian Church in the Southwest.
In May of 2002, he and Nyla moved to a retirement community in Arkansas where they lived for 19 years. During this time, one of Bill’s most cherished activities was to direct and play in the Hot Springs Village Big Band (Swing and Jazz) and also became active in 2 different churches, singing in multiple church and civic groups and playing in the Hot Springs Community Band, as well as serving as the ensemble’s associate director. Bill organized and directed the Village Dixieland band, also.
In 2009, Bill was honored as an inductee into the Texas Christian University Band Hall of Fame, for outstanding achievement in the fields of music and education.
In the Fall of 2021, Bill and Nyla made the decision to move back to Dallas to reside with their daughter and son-in-law, where they enjoyed sharing membership with their home church of Northway Christian Church and the congregation where their daughter served as minister, East Dallas Christian Church.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William A. Morgan Sr and Bernice Badgett Morgan, of Dallas. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nyla Baker Morgan; his brother, Dr. Robert B. Morgan (Helen) of Houston, Tx; Daughter Deborah Morgan-Stokes (Don) of Dallas; Robert A. Morgan (Alyson) of Knoxville, Tn; Ralph Morgan (Ellyn) of Irving, Tx, as well as 4 nieces, 1 nephew, and 4 grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held at Northway Christian Church, 7202 W. Northwest Hwy, Dallas, on January 6, 2024 at 2:30 pm, with a reception following the service at the church.
Memorials can be made to the Badgett Scholarship Fund at Brite Divinity School/TCU, the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society or whatever charity of choice in his honor.
To God be the Glory.
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