David Lee Morgan, Jr.
David Lee Morgan, Jr. (born 1965) is a sportswriter, author, teacher and motivational speaker. He has worked at several newspapers including the Warren Tribune-Chronicle, the Raleigh News & Observer, the Youngstown Vindicator, the Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin, and the Akron Beacon Journal. He was also a reporter for WYTV-Channel 33 in Youngstown, an ABC affiliate.
During his 15 years with the Akron Beacon Journal, Morgan covered high school sports, the University of Akron athletics, the Cleveland Cavaliers and helped with the paper's coverage of the Cleveland Indians during their 1997 World Series run. He also covered NBA MVP and All-Star LeBron James extensively, beginning with James' AAU participation in sixth grade, until his graduation from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, OH.
Morgan is the author of six sports books, including the first biography written about high school phenom, LeBron James, entitled, "LeBron James: The Rise of A Star." He has appeared on ESPN's "Outside the Lines", the 2008 documentary film "More Than a Game", directed by Kris Belman, and appeared in the Disney XD series called "Becoming", a half-hour show for kids and families profiling inspirational journeys of today's top athletes. The first episode featured LeBron James (October 26, 2014).
Morgan is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Personal life
Morgan was born in Warren, Ohio and is married to Jill (Blatt) Morgan. He received a bachelor's degree in Professional Writing & Editing with a minor in Journalism from Youngstown State University.
Books
• LeBron James: The Rise of a Star, (October 16, 2003) ISBN 978-1886228740
• More Than a Coach: What It Means to Play for Coach, Mentor, and Friend Jim Tressel, (July 1, 2009) ISBN 978-1600782381
• High School Heroes: Stories of Inspiration, Dedication, and Hope, (September 7, 2009) ISBN 978-1931968669
• A Ring For The King: King James, Shaq, and The Quest for an NBA Championship, (October 1, 2009) ISBN 1600783279
• Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik: The Pride of Youngstown, (Co-Written with Greg Gulas, 2009)
• Game Changers: The Greatest Plays in Ohio State Football History, (August 31, 2010) ISBN 978-1600782664
Awards
• Honored at the Governor’s Mansion by former Governor Ted Strickland and First Lady Frances Strickland as one of 10 Featured Authors in the state at the 2010 Ohioana Book Festival, Columbus, Ohio
• Runner-up Best Sports Feature Writer, Associated Press Society of Ohio, large-division category in 2010, behind winner Tom Archdeacon of the Dayton Daily News
• Three-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Writer of the Year (2004, 2007 and 2009)
• Member of the Trumbull County African-American Achievers Hall of Fame
• Winner of the James A. Sutherland Award, awarded by the Ohio Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 1996 as the top ``rookie’’ reporter in Northeast Ohio
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_fcT0OS5rs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsu9Cspb7vA
http://ohioana.org/quarterly/summer2010/celebrate.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZAe512BqEo
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/570724/Students-encouraged-to-be-MVPs.html?nav=5179
http://www.slamonline.com/nba/lebron-james-evolution-of-a-legend/#6BwsrwJ7e5VV4IEj.97
External Links
https://twitter.com/davidleemorgan