Memorial honors 41-year theater faculty member
On Aug. 29 a memorial was held for a man who forever changed Utah State University’s theater department.
In 1934, Floyd T. Morgan joined the USU faculty and remained there until his retirement in 1975. Morgan died on Aug. 4, 2003. The Morgan Theatre in the Kent Concert Hall is named after him. Morgan was a faculty member at USU for 41 years.
Throughout his career, Morgan directed more than 125 plays, designed about 300 sets and performed at least 80 roles. After Morgan’s retirement, he continued to support USU’s theater department, the Old Lyric Repertory Company and Valley Players. Morgan spent his life teaching about theater.
Michael Christiansen, director of the USU guitar program, said Morgan was always a great example to him.
“Floyd used to teach me so much about being a professor,” he said.
Judging from people’s attitudes at the memorial, Morgan was very respected and loved as a professor, Christiansen said.
Some traveled from afar to pay their respects at his memorial. There was a general consensus among those there that he knew almost every aspect of the theater world, Morgan’s friends and colleagues said.
Many of Morgan’s students and colleagues had fond memories of him teaching and always telling them to take pleasure in their acting, not to take things too seriously and, most importantly, to enjoy life. He and his wife dedicated themselves to theater performances at USU, and in the Logan community. To USU, he donated his beloved collection of hats. His hats were used in previous plays, and will be used in many future productions.
Students said Morgan could do anything and everything in the acting world. He could direct, act, and build and design sets, Johnson said.
“His work has inspired us, not only Utah, not only nationally, but internationally,” said Colin Johnson, head of the theater department.
Morgan’s theater work will carry on to further generations, as there are many who were touched by a theater production of which he was a part.
-amysueh@cc.usu.edu