Ex-Warren Central head football coach Robert Morgan, center, shares a laugh with fellow hall of fame inductees Rex Berryman, left, of Mooreville, and James Sloan of Tupelo. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

{7/10/04}JACKSON With members of both his own family and his extended family from Warren Central looking on, Robert Morgan took his first steps as a hall of famer.

Morgan, who coached WC to two state championships during his 19-year tenure as head coach and was part of nearly 300 wins in 36 years overall at the school, was inducted into the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame Friday night.

“I’m thankful to be in the same place for 36 years. I’ve been there so long, my doctor was a football player, my dentist was a football player, my mechanic was a football player,” said Morgan, who was among five coaches to be enshrined. “It’s so nice to get a flat fixed and have them say, Merry Christmas, coach.'”

The entire Warren Central coaching staff attended Friday’s festivities, as did several former players and managers. Robert Morgan’s own family, including sons Rob, Josh and Brett who all played for their father and went on to play at Mississippi State were also there.

Morgan thanked all of them during his induction speech, and said he was grateful for their support.

“I’m very numb, and very appreciative. The awesome thing to me, is that I represent a whole lot of folks,” Morgan said. “I hope I don’t let them down in any way, because it’s quite an honor when they put this much praise and whatever on you, you want to deserve it and I pray that I’ve done that.”

Morgan began his career at WC in 1968 as a junior high coach. Over the next 17 years, he worked his way through the coaching ranks and helped turn the Vikings into one of the premier programs in Mississippi high school football.

He became head coach in 1985, and WC didn’t miss a beat. Under Morgan, the Vikings won 71 percent of their games, 10 region titles, and state championships in 1988 and 1994. In the 36 years since Morgan joined the staff, WC has gone 293-97.

A big reason for Morgan’s success has been the family atmosphere surrounding the WC program. Several ex-Vikings have returned to Viking Field as coaches either with or against WC and Morgan remains close with many of his former players.

“All the people that have been a part of it, it just kind of adds up to one big family. He’s representing a lot of people tonight,” said Morgan’s son, Josh, who played quarterback for his father for two seasons before becoming an All-Southeastern Conference safety at Mississippi State.

Josh Morgan said his father always got people up, and never let them down.

“He could always get the most potential and the most athletic ability out of any human being that I’ve ever seen. He could get every drip out of a person. He’s one of the best motivators,” Josh Morgan said. “I played on the next level, and in big games in the SEC and I’ve never had anybody motivate me like him not just because he’s my dad, but all of our other players knew when he spoke you listened.”