Tom C. Morton

HARLINGEN – Tom C. Morton, 64, longtime coach and teacher passed away Monday, September 15, 2014. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2014, 2pm at Florence E. King Gymnasium on the campus of Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX.

When we received the news from Dad in the summer of 2011 about his metastatic cancer diagnosis, it was hard to see the good in anything at the moment. With his passing on Monday evening, September 15, 2014, it was the culmination of three years of a long fight with the disease that took everything but his enduring spirit.
What the cancer could NOT defeat was his determination throughout the battle, his courage against the toughest of odds, and his love, which only increased with every passing day. The silver lining throughout his fight was that it softened his heart. We got to learn more about him these three years than we ever had, while he showed us how to make the most out of our limited days.
Thomas Carlyle Morton was born on February 28, 1950, in Bennettsville, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Jim and Elizabeth Morton. He is survived by his brothers Mike, Ken (Carla), and Jim (Ethel), his children April, Jason, and Nathaniel, four grandchildren, Rachel, Noah, Alli, and Carson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dad’s childhood followed his father’s military career with early years in Oceanside, CA and Memphis, TN and the majority of those years in Ridgeland, SC where he graduated from high school. He excelled in the classroom and the athletic arena, becoming a multi-sport standout, achieving All-State status in football and All-American status in basketball. He accepted a scholarship to play for Memphis State University as an offensive lineman and linebacker. When his father accepted a position as drill instructor and coach at Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX, Dad chose to transfer to nearby Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX. There, he starred at offensive tackle and was a part of some great teams, winning a national title in 1970. Following his playing career and a B.A. in Education, Dad transitioned into coaching and teaching, with two years in South Carolina, before starting his long career at MMA.
With all the positions he held at the Academy, from Athletic Director and Head Coach in many sports to teaching World History and Geography, his main focus was the kids. We, as a family, never realized his influence more than in the last few years, hearing from a number of alumni on how Dad positively impacted their lives. Though his fierce competitiveness and tough, hard-nosed approach was always talked about, even more remembered was his patience with each student and athlete, taking time to help them succeed not only on the field, court, or classroom, but in life as well. In a time where coaching and teaching seemed to focus on new and complex methods, he never lost sight of his old school approach to fundamentals. He preached technique, honesty, and hard work, among others. These values helped cultivate young adults and equipped them with tools they needed and could apply well beyond high school. It was these values, often through stories, that we remember dad best.
The last thing that resonated with us recently was a habit that Dad practiced every week, and that was, reaching out to his family. Although we all usually received a Friday morning “TGIF Call,” sometimes it would just be a daily phone call to talk about the weather, what he was cooking for dinner, or to lend help with one of his signature recipes. It was these moments of him reaching out to us that would keep us close to home, no matter where we were in our walks of life. And this simple act was just one example of what was most important to him; his family. Up until his last days, he wanted us to feel this because he knew that family were those who were needed for love and support not only in the good times, but especially through trying times, as a rock to lean on. That’s the value that he will want us to carry on and display throughout our lives. That’s how those who are reading this can remember and honor him, until we meet again.

We’ll Miss you Pops,
April, Jake and Nate

In lieu of flowers The Morton Family would like to establish a Tom Morton Scholarship Fund. Scholarship donations may be made to Marine Military Academy, 320 N. Iwo Jima Blvd, Harlingen, TX 78550