By Karen Andrew
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Morgan

Retired businessman Freeman "Gus" Morgan Jr. was an energetic volunteer who was deeply concerned about the education and quality of life of Cincinnati youth.

"He was an outstanding civic-minded person. He was an inspiration to a lot of people," said Bob Buechner of Hyde Park, who was a good friend and worked with Mr. Morgan in the schools. "His primary purpose in life was to bring the love of Christ to as many people as possible."

Mr. Buechner said Mr. Morgan really believed in the sacredness of each individual life. While working with the kids he would always say, "God loves you and I love you."

He said that Mr. Morgan spent a great deal of time reading and talking with the kids and was a very caring person.

Mr. Morgan, of Madeira, died Friday at Jewish Hospital. He was 79.

Born in 1923 to Besie and Freeman Morgan in Louisville, Ky., he graduated cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1949.

During World War II, he drove amphibious tracked landing vehicles with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific. In 1945 he participated in the battle of Iwo Jima, where he witnessed the famous flag-raising atop Mount Suribachi.

He married Marjorie C. Bauer of Norwood in 1947.

His career centered around human relations and he served as personnel manager for Schenley Industries (1947-51); manager of Development, Training and Appraisal for the Kroger Company (1951-68); vice president of Learning Systems Development Corporation (1970); and consultant to the president of Senco Products Inc. in Anderson Township in the late 1970s and '80s.

After his retirement from Senco in 1988, he volunteered more than 40 hours a week at numerous organizations.

These included the Urban Appalachian Council; the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati; the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Club; and the advisory committee of Project Succeed Academy.

He served as president (1970-73) of the Citizens Committee on Youth, and with CCY, he began Christians United Reaching Everyone, in which he met with delinquent youth in local community centers and churches. In 1975, he found Partners in Education (Adopt-a-School) and in 1977 he helped found Leadership Cincinnati.

In 1994, he was honored with the Ohio Literacy Network Adult Literacy Award and received the Citizen Crusader award from the Cincinnatus Association in 1995.

He was an active member of the Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church, where he served as president of the United Methodist Men. He later became active in St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church of Madeira.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years; twin sisters, Jean Graham of New Orleans and Dean Kibler of Juniper, Fla; a brother, Tom Morgan of Dallas, and his brother-in-law, Tom Bauer of Mt. Carmel.

Visitation will take place 5 - 8 p.m. Monday at Thomas-Justin Memorial Funeral Home, 7500 Montgomery Road, Kenwood. The Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Gertrude, 7630 Shawnee Run Road, Madeira.

Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

E-mail: kandrew@enquirer.com.