Sterling "Bud" Morgan

Sterling Foster (Bud) Morgan, also known as Bub, Dad, Pa-Pa, and Bubbie, crossed his last hurdle here on earth, at the age of seventy-four, into the loving arms of his personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, after a quiet acceptance and yet a quiet acceptance and yet a courageous battle with complications from MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome). This thirteen-year journey had its trials and tribulations, but Bud kept his faith in God at the forefront and his spirits high as he enjoyed the many blessings along the way. He revered his doctors and really appreciated their medical help and treatment, but his faith and foundation were founded on the Rock of Salvation and the gospel of the Word of Truth.



Although Bud was born in Lubbock , Texas , on January 5, 1940 , while his parents were there for a short time with the war effort, he was raised in Snyder amidst the tumbleweeds and oilfields of Scurry County . Bud was the only son of John C. and Sterlene (Taylor) Morgan. (His two sisters Joe Ann Morgan and Betty Murphy survive him). His paternal grandparents were A. Foster and Evelyn (Basham) Morgan; but it was his maternal grandparents Judge Sterling A. and Elizabeth (Payne) Taylor, who had the key role in shaping Bud’s life. His great-grandparents Harvey W. and Pearl (Baugh) Taylor were pioneers to Scurry County in the late 1800’s, settling in the small community of Ira, ten miles southwest of Snyder. Harvey and Pearl were instrumental in the early development of the small farming community, donating much of their time and effort to working the land and helping others to establish nearby homes and farms. The Scurry County Cemetery land, a corner of the Taylor farm where Harvey raised his children, was donated to Ira in memory of Pearl and him. The old farm place is still in the family, and many of the Taylors still reside in the small community.



Bud was never one to resist a challenge; and his high school/college years, without a doubt, reflect his stamina, his persistence, and yet his loving spirit. He was a stand-out and a favorite, both in popularity and in sports, during his Snyder High School years of 1954-1958. Some of his honors include his being voted Sophomore and Junior Favorite, his being selected a Tiger’s Tale personality, and his being honored as a date throughout the years for the sports clubs’ sorority dances. He was also a member of several academic clubs including Spanish club, his favorite. His sports honors were numerous as he rose to being a Snyder High School State Track Champion in the low hurdles, both his junior and senior year; was named captain of the varsity track team his senior year; and was chosen for the All American Track Team his senior year as he had the fastest time in the nation in the180-yard low hurdles. Without a doubt, Bud crossed that last hurdle with flying speed and a big beautiful smile into the arms of His precious Savior!



Today, Bud’s name in high school football is still known in and around West Texas circles. Bud played both offensive running back and defensive cornerback. However, his coach, recognizing Bud’s fearless and competitive spirit, also tapped him for the position of middle linebacker a great deal of the time. And Bud, although weighing in at 150 pounds (almost), took to the position well and never let his small build deter him from tackling the biggest fullback on the other team; this uncompromising determination and stubborn persistence earned him the nickname ‘Bulldog.’ Much of this toughness was developed under the apprenticeship of his father, an honest, forthright, but tough-minded oilfield businessman. Those years on his dad’s rig were, as Bud put it, ‘the hardest and toughest years of my life, years I would not want to re-live; yet I’ll have to say, they shaped my work ethic, made a man out of me, and determined my choice to go on and get a college degree so that I would not have to return to the oilfield’ (famous last words, though, as Bud did go back for several summers to help boost the family’s income during his early years of marriage). During his football years, Bud landed many honors; some of them include his being selected All-District First Team Football his junior and senior year, his being chosen varsity captain of the team for two years, and his being named Most Valuable Player his senior year. Bud’s name still ranks with the sports elite of Snyder High School !



Upon graduation in 1958, Bud was offered numerous track scholarships from some of the major colleges/universities including the Naval Academy , Rice, UT/Austin, and Texas Tech. However, the offer that appealed to him most was the scholarship for the track program at North Texas State under the leadership of Coach Winton ‘Pop’ Noah, who became not only his coach but also a father figure. While at NTS, Bud’s wide popularity and athletic talent continued to make a name for him, as well as his dancing ability. Although Bud never ‘properly’ thanked his mother for his early years of dance school, his dancing/acrobatic training proved invaluable on the track field. Bud was known as the best dancer around on the NTS campus, and his track/field honors spoke for themselves as he was voted into the Lettermen’s Club and named the National Champion in the 220-yard low hurdles in 1959 after competing in Mexico City . However, two years later Bud accepted an offer to run track for Grant Teaff, his hometown friend from Snyder, who had just become the head football/track coach at McMurry College .



Bud always believed that God’s timing is perfect, so he accepted the offer with no regrets. While at McMurry, Bud joined a track team made up of young men mostly from Abilene ’s surrounding small towns and farming communities. This unusually talented track team, solid in determination yet humble in spirit, went on to receive attention and recognition at the national level. Many of the team members’ records still stand. Bud thoroughly enjoyed the friendships and camaraderie while at McMurry, both on and off the track field. (Some of his antics while in the ‘Dirty Shirts’ have become an integral part of the sports lore around the campus.) It was during this time, too, that Bud’s crowning moment came with the birth of his first daughter Michele. Bud always had a big beautiful smile; but when this little baby girl arrived, his smile became the biggest and the most beautiful ever! Never again would sports take center-stage. Although Bud’s passion and livelihood evolved around sports the rest of his life, his daughters Michele, Melissa, Mecole, and Kelly would always hold first place in his heart.



After doing his student teaching at Abilene High School under the direction of P.E. ‘Pete’ Shotwell, for whom the multi-sports complex is named, Bud received his B.S. from McMurry in 1963 and began his longtime coaching career. In his early years, Bud was passionately ambitious and extremely hard-working as he toiled through the ranks in hopes of rising to the top in his professional career. He thought he was well on his way when he was named head football coach at Richland Springs in 1972. While at the small school, Bud was instrumental in re-building the football and track program. The football team, under his direction, walked away with many wins and their heads held high after some previously disappointing years; and Bud’s track team won the district meet in1973. He loved his years at Richland Springs and was well-suited for the job. With his boundless energy, Bud was not only successful as the head coach of all sports and the only high school history teacher but also respected as the sole bus driver and field superintendent, meaning he watered, mowed, and manicured the football field himself.



However, God, in order to bring us closer to Him, sometimes changes the direction of our pathway just when we think ‘things’ are going our way. And this proved true with Bud. Thanks be to God for his loving Christian grandparents and the example they set during the time Bud’s parents were away continuing their work for the war effort. During these early years, Judge Taylor was a constant influence on Bud as he taught him the way to raise a family and the laws of the land; and Mrs. Taylor set the moral and spiritual compass of the home as she took her young grandson to church and Sunday school and, most importantly, introduced him to Christ. Bud’s heart for the Lord was set, and he remained a dedicated servant to the end. Although Bud never lost his passion for sports and continued on (also finding time for graduate school at Angelo State University) to complete a thirty-eight-year coaching/teaching career in the Texas public schools, his dreams of the heart had been altered; and he soon found peace with the changes he knew would ultimately come.



In his mid-years, Bud ran road races and was up every morning before the crack of dawn to train for the next race. He was as disciplined as ever and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This was a fun time for Bud as he was, also, still coaching and teaching; life was good as Judy and he enjoyed trips to the mountains and spending time with their four daughters. But in his later years, Bud realized he had other talents and interests and began doing ceramics and teaching Sunday school. His ceramic collection includes several beautiful Christmas pieces. Christmas always held special meaning for Bud, and he would readily admit to anyone that he was like a small child when it came to this time of year. Bud loved everything about Christmas, especially the story of Christ, and each morning throughout the year ate his breakfast from a small Christmas dessert plate. It was these post-retirement years that actually became his best. He not only loved his art work but also enjoyed ushering and teaching Sunday school at First United Methodist Church in San Angelo . Bud was head usher for many years and continued his service to the church throughout his illness.



Bud probably found his real passion in teaching Sunday school. The long hours he spent developing his Bible lessons for the Friendship Class of FUMC were ones of dedication and joy; and it was in one of these Sunday school classes that Eddie Lou Neel, the longtime music coordinator for the San Angelo schools, complimented Bud on his beautiful tenor voice. This was ‘music’ to Bud’s ears; and he took a new interest in singing in church and, also, began writing Christian song lyrics. The discipline Bud learned to become a national hurdler served him well as he had written the lyrics to fifty-nine songs when the Lord called him home. There’s no doubt that Bud is indeed ‘home at last’ to join his family members and other loved ones who precede him including his running buddy Jack Petty; his college friend William (Bill) Miller; his high school friends Charles (Chuck) Cockrell, Ronald (Ronnie) Pitner, and Dottie (Dugas) Oliver; and his beloved Snyder High School track coach James (Dutch) Stehley.



Always and forever loving Bud are his wife Judy (Buchanan) Morgan, truly the love of his life, and his four beautiful daughters Michele and her husband Chris Johnson of Midland, Melissa Williams of Austin, Mecole and her husband Reid Campbell of Levelland, and Kelly and her husband Harry Harrell of Harker Heights. Likewise, cherishing Bud’s memory are his six beloved grandchildren Ashley and her husband Parker Sands of Abilene, Ryne Rice of Odessa , Alexis Williams of Austin, Morgan Campbell of Levelland, Hayden Harrell of Harker Heights , and Savannah Harrell of Harker Heights. Also, to hold Bud’s memory special from loving words, family pictures, and ‘embellished’ stories is his great-grandson Keller Sands, along with the twin siblings-to-be of Abilene . In addition, Bud leaves behind others who will carry a special place in their hearts for him including Judy’s two sisters Betty and her husband Steve Crowell of Boerne (and Buenos Aires, Argentina) and Fernie and her husband Larry Herrington of Del Rio, along with their children and grandchildren.



Carrying Bud’s memory in their hearts, too, are Lynne Morgan of Midland, Tony Rice of Odessa, and Chad Williams of Austin, along with special Snyder High School friends Ron Miller of Waco, Bob Pollard of Snyder, Deanne Sims of Port Aransas, and Rex Wilson of Montgomery. And, likewise, remembering Bud with fondness and perhaps a few chuckles are his longtime North Texas State friends Tommy Black of Lovington, New Mexico; Billy Bob Harris of Dallas; Richard Menchaca of Irving; and Dr. John Petit of Argyle. Bud’s McMurry buddies will, too, always remember him including Bill Blythe of Lake Kiowa, James Harvey of Abilene, Bruce Land of Abilene, John Dale Lewis of Big Lake, Paul Rankin of Abilene, and Mike Stell of Laguna Park, along with his best friend from his Odessa coaching years Richard (Dicky) Molinar of San Antonio and his McMurry coach and Snyder friend Grant Teaff. As they tell him good-bye with these words, they want us to know that he had quite an impact on their lives with his kind heart, his fierce loyalty, his never-ending determination and his ever-present friendship – ‘Happy hurdling, Bud; we’ll see you one of these days soon!’



Judy and the family would like to thank the dedicated team of doctors at Scott and White Memorial Hospital in Temple including Arthur Frankel, M.D.; Mark Holguin, M.D.; Clay Gowan, D.O.; Luis Cuervo, M.D.; and Brian Barnett, M.D. They would also like to include Gautam Borthakur, M.D. and Adrien Subora, MS, PA-C of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; Warren Conway M.D. and Robert Prieto M.D. of West Texas Medical Associates in San Angelo; Michael Johnson M.D., formerly of West Texas Medical Associates; the medical team at San Angelo Community Medical Center, giving special thanks to Kirk Brewer M.D. and Bud’s caregivers in ICU/PCU; and D’Arcie Chitwood and the wonderful staff at Meadow Creek Care Center. And they would deeply like to thank three angels of mercy Christian Cable, M.D. also of Scott and White in Temple; Luis Duarte, M.D. of Shannon Medical Center/San Angelo Community Medical Center in San Angelo; and David Harvey, M.D. of Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, retired – truly, three of God’s blessings to the medical community and all of mankind! The family, too, would like to thank the Director of Transportation for the San Angelo ISD Roger Garcia and all of Bud’s other longtime buddies at the bus barn for their ever-present friendship, their constant prayers, and their many gestures of good will.



The family has planned a private graveside service at the Snyder Cemetery in Snyder , Texas . The Reverend Betty D. Crowell, Judy’s sister, will remember Bud with words of love, hope, and courage from his favorite book God’s precious and everlasting Word of Truth, the Holy Bible. At this time, Bub, there are no words to express how very, very much we will miss you! You were the bright spot in our lives as you loved us, encouraged us, laughed with us, and challenged us to do our best – so after the tears fall, we shall put forth our best efforts as we continue our work here on earth (we have a feeling, though, it won’t be very long until we, too, join you on the other side!) – as we say good-bye, we are remembering your sweet words of advice, ‘Keep a smile on your face and Jesus in your heart!’ Our love now and forever, Judy and the Girls!



(*Memorials in Bud’s name can be given to the Youth Fund at First United Methodist Church, 37 East Beauregard, San Angelo, Texas 76903; the American Cancer Society, 3228 South College Hills Blvd., San Angelo, Texas 76905; or a favorite charity.)