Chapter 25: Morgan Simpson (1996-1998): Hope and Opportunity

Morgan Simpson was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 11, 1943 to Fred and Blanch Simpson. His father’s side of the family lived on a farm in Daviston, Alabama and his mother’s side lived in Piedmont, Alabama. Four generations before his birth members of his family migrated from Belfast, North Ireland to the United States. They came ashore in South Carolina before finally settling in Alabama (Simpson, pers. comm.).

Simpson was the middle child of three boys. He grew up in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His school was located in his neighborhood, which Simpson said, “had the effect of creating community” (Simpson, pers. comm.). The boys and girls played outside in the neighborhood, swimming and riding their bicycles. He was also involved in Boy Scouts. He remembers having trouble recognizing and naming ten trees, which was part of the requirement for moving up from Tenderfoot to First Class rank. The test was taken during winter and all he had to go by was the tree bark. He attained the rank of First Class before leaving scouting for other activities.