Hall of Fame Member Biographies

David R. Morgan

Students, the state government of Oklahoma, the City of Norman, and the field of political science have all benefited from the teaching and scholarly work of David R. Morgan at the University of Oklahoma. After serving two years in the Army, David Morgan enrolled at OU where he eventually received his Ph.D. in political science in1969. Prior to his Ph.D. work, he spent about five years with the cities of Norman, Oklahoma City, and Yukon (as its first city manager). He began his long and distinguished academic career by first becoming project director for several Peace Corps training programs at OU. After a three-year stint on the faculty at Oklahoma City University, he became an assistant professor at OU. By 1977, he was the director of the Bureau of Government Research and later was named as the Henry Bellmon Chair of Public Service from 1996 to 2000, when he retired from OU. Known as an accomplished mentor, he guided 20 students to their Ph.D. degrees and assisted in their careers thereafter. The College of Arts and Sciences named him as an OU Associates’ Distinguished Lecturer in 1984 and 1987. His research record is especially noteworthy. He is the author or coauthor of seven books, one of which is in its 7th edition (Managing Urban America). He has authored or coauthored over 75 journal articles and book chapters. During his career, he received funding for 15 research projects. For his contributions, the American Society for Public Administration gave him the Donald C. Stone Award for Outstanding Academic and Research Contribution to Intergovernmental Management. In 2004, the Southwestern Social Science Association presented him its Distinguished Service Award. The high esteem in which his students held him was reflected in 2000 by the creation of an endowment fund in his name. Tonight we honor David R. Morgan’s contributions to Oklahoma higher education and to the people of this state.