For twenty-two years Morgan has served in Virginia's House of Delegates as a representative for the 98th district, a rural area that at times has spread from Caroline County down the Middle Peninsula to Poquoson. Over the years he has become well known for his frankness and modesty, an unlikely reputation in today's political landscape.

Equally unlikely is that Morgan became a politician in the first place. The son of the sole proprietor of Gloucester County's oldest drug store, Morgan graduated from Hampden-Sydney and went on to pharmacy school at the Medical College of Virginia. He returned to the family store in 1957. Morgan remembers his father's dictum: "Anybody in public business has no business in politics. They'll accuse you of being a horse thief-and what's more, they'll prove it." Ironically, working at the pharmacy sparked his interest in politics; it put him in close contact with the concerns of the community. His affinity for dealing with people, combined with a larger sense of duty to community he claims was instilled in him at Hampden-Sydney, made it impossible to continue adhering to his father's dictum. He was soon appointed to medical advisory committees under Governors Godwin and Dalton.

In 1978, then Speaker of the House John Warren Cooke, one of the assembly's more conservative Democrats, announced his retirement. After some hesitation, Morgan decided to run for the seat. But he ran as a Republican-with the days of the "Byrd Machine" fading fast, the Virginia Democrats had grown too liberal for him. He won by a comfortable margin, just as he has done in every race since then, including this past November.

Throughout his long tenure, Morgan has been known to take a strong stance on bedrock conservative planks. He is responsible for two anti-drug bills, and he is a proponent of Virginia's right-to-work laws. As a devout Presbyterian, he has done his part to bring a tone of spirituality into the lives of other Delegates; at the prodding of fellow alumnus and Delegate John Robertson '51, Morgan helped organize the Sunrise Caucus, an ecumenical gathering that meets at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings during the session.

Morgan is also considered a House authority on environmental issues. And he is known for his fight against tobacco advertising that targets minors and for his role in restricting public smoking. Morgan, however, doesn't fret over defying party positions. "When I first ran for office," he said, "I told myself that I would always do what I think is right, regardless of outside pressures."

What weighs on him most heavily is the idea that he is charged with making decisions for other people's lives. And for these types of decisions, he relies on a model offered by Professor Morris Bittinger, who taught history and economics during Morgan's days as a Hampden-Sydney student. "Mr. 'Bitt' used to ask what type of person had the most freedom? After a few guesses he would tell his answer: a hobo. Then he would ask what type of person was the most secure. His answer: a prisoner," Morgan explained. "I have thought about that a lot in office. And that is how I try to make decisions for people, by striking an appropriate balance between freedom and security."

With a recent gubernatorial election in Virginia, Morgan and his fellow Delegates are adapting to a new administration. But the biggest challenge remains the same: money. Last year the General Assembly had anticipated a five and a half percent increase in the economy and had planned for that in the budget. But the economy went up only three and a half percent. Then September 11th happened, promising a continued downturn of the economy.

But Morgan's demeanor-calm, frank, and competent-is profoundly reassuring. "We are better off than a lot of states," he explained. Virginia has a AAA bond rating, which means the Commonwealth receives good interest rates and could borrow up to $700 million per year without affecting that rate. Virginia also has $1 billion in a "rainy day" fund. ("Not that we would want to use that," Morgan added quickly). And, unlike some states surrounding the Commonwealth, Virginia has not spent its tobacco settlement monies (something Morgan insists should be used only for healthcare).

After winning on November 6, 2001, this modest, self-proclaimed "plodder" is preparing for yet another term as Delegate for the 98th district. The House make-up is radically differently from when Morgan was first elected in 1979. Come January, the Republican party will outnumber Democrats two-to-one-a spread Democrats enjoyed when Morgan was a junior member. Now in the majority party, he is a full-fledged committee chairman. But the recent Republican take-over in the House has not changed Morgan's political life as much as one might think. For when the Assembly is in session, you are not likely to see this veteran member on any television screen. He will be in the back left corner, where he can ponder and balance the "party-line" handouts, read the bills for himself, and quietly, patiently, question the issues.