Stanley Morgan Meets Hometown Fans

It's been a long time since Stanley Morgan played football on Brice Field but after nearly 40 years, he still calls Easley home.

Morgan was on the 1973 Green Wave football team when they won the state championship and since then he's led a successful career playing college football for the University of Tennessee and professional football for the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts.

"Winning the state championship senior year was my favorite memory," Morgan said. "We had a great team that year."

Morgan was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2007 and was one of the fastest wide receivers in the NFL.

High school friends, long-time fans and younger fans of Stanley Morgan had a chance to meet Easley's only NFL star Thursday afternoon when he signed autographs at Lu Bagwell Interiors on South Pendleton Street. 

"It was so great to see him," said Susan Elskin, a former classmate of Morgan's at Easley High School. "He was always such an awesome athlete — track, football, basketball."

Morgan spent the afternoon signing autographs, posing for photographs, and talking with old friends including his former high school football coach Mayor Larry Bagwell.

"He's been very instrumental in my life," Morgan said. "His wife is very special to me, she's been my other mom."

Bagwell said he's been friends with Morgan's family since childhood, and looks fondly on the days when he coached Morgan, but tried not to take any credit.

"Players win games, coaches lose games," Bagwell said jokingly.

Tomorrow Morgan leaves home once again to return to his new home in Memphis, Tenn., where he plans to watch some football at his alma mater. 

"We've got homecoming this weekend, we always get together for homecoming," Morgan said.

Morgan has been in Easley for three weeks visiting his family and friends and playing a little golf.