Although he's never coached a team nor played competitive sports outside of a game of recreational golf, John W. Morgan has affectionately earned the title of "Cortland's Good Will Sports Ambassador" by promoting athletics, at all levels, in the Cortland community for over 50 years. Morgan, a native of Cortland who attended both Cortland High and the Cortland Business Institute, got his first taste of athletics as the guest of the New York Giants' Truxton-born manager, John J. McGraw, at the 1933 World Series. Two years later, Morgan was busy promoting the Cortland Cobakco baseball squad in the old Central New York semi-pro league. The team disbanded with the start of World War II, but in 1946 Morgan initiated the Annual Central New York Old Timers Baseball Dinner.
During the 1930's, Morgan served as the promoter for the old Cortland Sodality and later the St. Mary's Holy Name semi-pro basketball teams, which battled Central New York's finest hoop squads on their home court at Cortland's St. Mary's High School. In 1939, Morgan, through his friendship with the late John J. McGraw, helped to organize a contest between the New York Giants of the National League and a group of Central New York All-Stars. The thousands of baseball fans who ringed Truxton's McGraw Field formed one of the largest crowds ever in the small New York village.
The Annual Cortland Sports Award Dinners were originated by Morgan in 1955. Over the years, many outstanding coaches and athletes in the Cortland community, including Cortland C-Club Hall of Famers George Breen, "Chugger" Davis, "Prof." Holloway, Leo Meldrim, Andy Tei and John Moiseichik, have been among the honorees.
The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) held its first basketball tournaments, with all the teams competing in single elminiation action, at SUNY Cortland in the early 1960's. Morgan, along with Leo Meldrim, handled the ticket sales. The three-day events were sellouts and rank among the most exciting SUNYAC basketball annals.
When the present C-Club was organized in 1969, Morgan was on the Advisory Board. He continued to remain acitve in the C-Club over the years, annually helping to raise funds for Red Dragon athletic teams.
Back in the 1930's, Morgan became active in the Democratic Party and has been a committeeman for decades. He has represented Cortland's Second Ward in the Cortland County Legislature. He chaired the Recreation and Culture Commission in the county and also has been a commissioner of recreation in the City of Cortland. Morgan was instrumental in the formation of the Cortland Apples, a collegiate summer league baseball team, in 1981.
UPDATE: John passed away in September 1999.
