In Memory of
Officer Wayne
"Cotton" Morgan
Wayne Thomas "Cotton" Morgan, 56, started his
career with TDOC on August 8, 1977. A 28-year veteran of Brushy
Mountain Correctional Complex and the state of Tennessee, Morgan's life
tragically ended on August 9, 2005.
Cotton was a dedicated Christian
and member of the Meadowview Baptist Church were he served as deacon, Sunday school
teacher and choir member, as
well as singing duets with his wife.
A U.S. Army veteran, Morgan served
in the Vietnam war and was awarded the prestigious Purple Heart.
In his spare time, he worked in his
flower and vegetable gardens. Once a month, he visited the Lifecare Center in Wartburg
to minister to the patients. He also visited the
Wartburg jail each Thursday evening to minister.
Wayne Morgan is survived by his wife, Vianne Bunch Morgan;
children, Dennis Wayne Morgan and Carla Keeton and her husband Tracy;
two grandchildren, Cole and Halie; mother, Cordia Morgan; brothers, John
and his wife Rita of Wartburg, James and wife Terri of Wartburg, J.C.;
sisters, Rose Rickers of Bowie, MD, Genevieve Morgan of Pikeville, Wilma
Riley, Yvonne Turner and Gail Burgess; a host of nieces and nephews,
friends and co-workers who loved him dearly. His special friend
and partner for many years at Brushy, Larry Harris (Officer Harris was
transporting the inmate with Officer Morgan when Officer Morgan was shot
and killed.) Wayne Morgan was preceded in death by his
grandparents, Fred and Mindy Hall Stewart, John and Alice Morgan;
father, Guy E. Morgan; brothers, Richard and David Morgan;
brothers-in-law, Gerald Turner and Leslie Rickers
Military honors from his Army service: Purple
Heart, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze stars, Combat Infantryman
Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/6 Device and
National Defense Service Medal.
He served one year with the National Guard.
and was
nominated for Correctional Officer of the Year with the International
Association of Correctional Officers.
TDOC Credits:
-
Charter Member of the Brushy Tact Team
-
Brushy Man-Tracking Team
-
Attended Riot Control Training Sponsored by FBI
-
Certified NRA Police Firearms Instructor
TDOC also sends a special thanks to the correctional
officers from NECX and STSRCF who worked at Brushy Mountain Correctional
Complex Site 1 and 2 on Friday, August 12, 2005, so that BMCX staff
could attend funeral services for Officer Morgan.
NECX sent 26 officers, including those with rank.
Their names and rank are as follows:
| Captain Randy Lee |
CO Michael Rhymer |
| Lieutenant Jerry Stanley |
CO Stephen Buckles |
| Sgt. Donnie Henson |
CO Wendell Fulton |
| Sgt. Steve Payne |
CO Joseph Reece |
| Sgt. Steve Stanley |
CO Chris Cornett |
| Cpl. Ralph Walker |
CO Johnny Eastridge |
| Cpl. Fredrick Roark |
CO Kevin Icenhour |
| Cpl. David Mullis |
CO Randy Freeman |
| CO Mark Lundy |
CO Wayne Hicks |
| CO Bobby E. Taylor |
CO Ralph Thomas |
| CO Bobby D. Taylor |
CO Terry Brown |
| CO J.W. Tester |
CO Brian Aldridge |
| CO Kenneth Combs |
CO Terrance Burress |
STSRCF sent 23 officers, including those with
rank. Their names and rank are as follows:
| Captain Kenny Simmons |
CCO Rick Hassler |
| Sgt. Kenny Phillips |
CCO Jeremy Lewis |
| Sgt. Roger Whittenberg |
CCO Kenny Baker |
| Cpl. Lester Riggs |
CO Roger Wilgus |
| Cpl. Ben Welch |
CO Gary Smith |
| Cpl. Jeff Reams |
CO Calvin Bruce |
| CO Robert Orme |
CO Larry Smith |
| CO Vernon Orme |
CO J.T. Bickford |
| CO Bron Howard |
CO David Janow |
| CO Chad Davis |
CO Lynn Underwood |
| CO Jeremy Beard |
CO Rodney Dixon |
| CO Gerry Latham |
|
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