Robert "Bruce" Morgan

Martinez, GA – Robert “Bruce” Morgan, passed peacefully, surrounded by his family on October 10, 2021.

Bruce was born January 1, 1949, in LaGrange GA to Will and Nancy Morgan. He was a graduate of LaGrange High and a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Georgia (UGA), where he played football as a freshman and as a sophomore, until he was injured in a spring practice scrimmage. Coach Vince Dooley and the team physician decided that Bruce should change athletic directions. At that time, he joined as a student, the UGA Police Department, which was affiliated with the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department. Bruce was one of two liaison officers with the UGA Athletic Department. Upon graduation in 1974, he joined the GA Department of Public Safety – Post 9 in Atlanta, GA. After several years, he was transferred to the NE Georgia Police Academy as Director of training for the 13 counties in that region. In 1977, he was transferred to Augusta as the Director of Public Safety for the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) – now Augusta Health. His responsibilities included the Police Department, Safety Department, Parking, Vehicle Services, and Environmental Safety. In 1998, he was honored to be awarded additional duties as Special Assistant to the Vice President of Business Operations. He retired from MCG in 2000 with the honor of being named Director of Public Safety Emeritus. After retirement, he joined the Veterans Administration VISN7 as the Environment of Care Coordinator until his retirement in 2015.

During his employment with MCG in the 1990’s and the Veterans Administration, Bruce worked with New York City hospitals on their security and emergency operations. He arrived in New York City on September 10, 2001; to help Jacobi Medical Center prepare for an upcoming accreditation survey. On the morning of September 11, he was conducting a tabletop disaster drill with the facilities staff when the administrative assistant interrupted to tell them to turn on the television – just in time to see the second plane hit the World Trade Center. He spent the week sleeping in the nursing dormitory after helping during the day with operations of the hospital, which was the designated mobile morgue for the disaster. He was able secure a rental car that Friday and was asked and agreed to drive an elderly couple from Naples, Florida back south to catch a plane home, as no flights were leaving NYC.

Bruce and Camille are very active in the Shag Dance Community, as they were prior to meeting in Columbia while attending Shag Dance events and establishments. They were married in North Myrtle Beach in 1992 at the Fall Migration of the Society of Stranders (SOS). The SOS Chairman, Phil Sawyer, escorted Camille; and as the Shag is the South Carolina State Dance, Governor Campbell declared it their day. The event was covered on the front page of the Myrtle Beach Sun Times. Bruce and Camille are long time sponsors of the Grand Nationals Dance Championships in Atlanta, the National Shag Dance Championships in North Myrtle Beach, as well as the Competitive Shag Dance competition at the Shag Shack, Davis Road, in Augusta.

Bruce was an avid runner, having run in many Law Enforcement Torch runs for the benefit of the Special Olympics. In 1996, he was honored with the opportunity to run the Olympic Torch for a section of its trip to Atlanta.
They enjoyed traveling all over the world, both by themselves and with tours and cruises. They especially enjoyed multiple stays in a villa on the Adriatic Sea in Brela, Croatia. Both Bruce and Camille enjoyed playing golf together and are members of the West Lake Country Club. Although Bruce is a UGA Bulldog, he especially enjoyed attending South Carolina football games and tailgating with Columbia Shag dancers.

Bruce is preceded in death by his parents William Ellington Morgan and Nancy Truitt Mobley Morgan; his brothers William Ellington Morgan III (Connie) and Thomas Truitt Morgan. Survivors include his loving wife of 29 years, Camille; son Robert Reed (Robbie); son by choice Charlie Wispert; sister-in-law Carolyn (Tommy) Morgan; and a number of nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and nephews, as well as many friends.

Bruce requested that a party be held in his honor at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the CSRA Shag Club, Reference: Bruce Morgan in care of:
Debbie Kasper, Treasurer
CSRA Shag Dance Club
131 Devonshire Dr. Aiken, SC 29803

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com