Special to the
Opelika Observer

Gillis Morgan, former Opelika Observer columnist and retired journalist, was recently presented the Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist Award by the Auburn University Advisory Journalism Award Committee.
In his early career, Morgan worked as a young reporter covering the civil rights movement throughout Alabama. He worked for the Alabama Journal in Montgomery and the Birmingham News.
After earning a master’s degree from the University of Alabama, he joined the Auburn University journalism department where he taught for 22 years.
During Gillis’ four years as an Observer columnist he was an inspiration, role model and mentor to our other columnists as well as to our editorial staff.
Also honored along with Morgan were Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter; David Housel, former AU Sports Information Director and later Athletic Director; sports journalist Phillip Marshall and Ken Hare, former managing editor of the Montgomery Advertiser.