Hugh Whitford Morgan

Hugh Whitford Morgan, 79, of Knoxville died unexpectedly on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. He was well known as an accomplished attorney, specializing in trial law. He was a partner at Kramer Rayson LLP. Hugh was born in Huntingdon, Tennessee on February 2, 1937, to Marion Addison Whitford and Darsie Herbert Morgan. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1954, and then graduated with an engineering degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point with the class of 1958. Hugh served six years on active duty in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as an aviator, achieving the rank of Captain. After leaving the Army he attended the University of Tennessee, College of Law, graduating with honors in 1967. He also flew single engine planes and helicopters for the Tennessee National Guard for many years. He put himself through law school by teaching flying lessons. Hugh was a dedicated volunteer serving on numerous boards including the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home and Bethel University. He was an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a delegate to its General Assembly. He enjoyed leading Boy Scout troops on many hikes and adventures. He was an avid lifetime ham radio operator, W4VAB, continuing to “work” many stations around the world daily. He studied the Civil War and was part of the Knoxville Civil War Roundtable. Before computers were available to most, he was busily soldering them together in his basement and programming in DOS, Fortran, and Basic, when computers were “fed code” and binary switches turned them on manually. He continued to learn about, build, and code until the present day. Hugh traveled extensively visiting all 50 States and many foreign countries. He enjoyed history, genealogy, nature, and hiking. His loss is softened by the knowledge that he passed away during a hike in the company of his cherished companion, Heather Crawley, who has been his girlfriend for the past 15 years. His dry and often self-effacing humor, loyalty, wit, and kind heart will be sorely missed. He is survived by his children Katherine “Katie” Morgan, Carol Morgan, and David Morgan (Molly Morgan); grandchildren Forrest Flammer, Nathaniel Morgan, Simon Zomchick, and Clementine Morgan, mother of his children, Margaret Morgan, and brother Edwin Eugene Morgan. Receiving of friends will take place on Sunday, August 14, 2016, from 4:00-6:00pm, at Rose Mortuary, 6200 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919, (865) 588-8578. A Celebration of Life will take place this fall, date TBD. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Hugh’s honor are being accepted by the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, 909 Greenlee St., Denton, TX 76201, cpch.org; Boy Scouts of America, 1333 Old Weisgarber Rd., Knoxville, TN 37909, bsa-gsmc.org; and Friends of the Smokies, PO Box 1660, Kodak, TN 37764-7660, friendsofthesmokies.org. Online condolences at www.rosemortuary.com

Tributes

Hugh Whitford Morgan

August 10, 2016