morgan retirement

By Kirk Hanna
Times sports writer
Since 1970, many things have changed.
Bell-bottoms are no longer the fashion norm, Coke and Dr. Pepper bottles are made with plastic instead of glass and seven different presidents have been elected to office.
But a face in the crowd at Rawlins High School has remained the same.
Al Morgan started his coaching career for the Outlaws in 1970 as an assistant, and while his hair style may have changed through time, his dedication to RHS has remained the same.
But 2007 starts a new chapter in his life: retirement.
He’s taught at the junior high and the high school in Rawlins, professing numbers, slopes and theorems to his youngsters.
He’s also seen a lot from the sidelines and the coach’s booth at Outlaw Stadium: The unfortunate years in the mid to late 70’s, which resulted in the firing of the entire staff except for Morgan. The promising years under Bill Murray in the early to mid 80’s. The resurgent championship year of 2000 under John Hilim.
He was the head coach for two years in 1978 and 1979, but also served as the activities director for 13 years during the late 80’s and all of the 90’s.
“There’s never been a moment that I didn’t enjoy (football) 100 percent,” Morgan said of his football days, which started when he played organized football in the sixth grade.
That same year when he first picked up a pigskin, was the year football teams were first required to wear facemasks. And since then he has seen many other equipment changes and upgrades.
His first year of college was the first year mouth guards were required, but now facemasks and mouth guards are common attire and are still being modified to prevent injuries.
Morgan has also seen changes in play calling.
“Everyone used to run power series and I-formation,” he said, “but now teams are passing almost 70 percent of the time.”
His birth to the coaching scene came in western Kansas, but during his first year teaching he was drafted during the Vietnam War and stationed in Germany.
Now upon retiring from teaching math, Morgan can only look back over the last 37 years in Rawlins and thank all the wonderful people that have shaped his life.
“My favorite part (about teaching and coaching) is the relationship with the kids. It’s always a bonus when the kids actually want to be there,” Morgan said of his many relationships with Outlaw students and athletes.
He also has great support from his wife, Patsy, who is also retiring from teaching this year.
“My wife is an exceptional person. She attends as many (school) events as I do,” Morgan said of her support of not only Outlaw football, but of all RHS extracurricular activities.
During their retirement, the Morgans plan to travel around the country, visiting children and grandchildren along the way. They have family in Phoenix, Seattle and Cheyenne.
But don’t think they’re going to forget about the city of Rawlins and their friends at the school.
“We still plan to attend many high school events,” Morgan said, commenting on his enjoyment of Rawlins.
“Patsy and I both appreciate how the people of Rawlins have been very, very supportive,” he said. “We truly appreciate what the people have done for us.”