Being awarded a “full” university scholarship (room, board, tuition, books, etc.) is a life-changing event for incoming students, who have the burden removed of paying roughly $100,000 or more for a bachelor’s degree. Few full scholarships exist – but, at Lamar University, the Beaumont Foundation of America recently earmarked an endowment for a 17th full “Southeast Texas Legend” scholarship award to begin in 2025.
“Legend” scholarships, each of the now 17, are named for persons as inspirational for the local community as the scholarships are for their recipients. Legend Scholarship recipients are awarded on a constant basis, ensuring that Lamar University students are in perpetual use of the generous funding, Vice President of University Advancement Juan Zabala said.
“When we have a Legend scholar that is preparing to graduate,” Zabala said, “we know that we have a spot that can be filled – and we get it filled.”
The genesis of such a grand scholarship was celebrated in equal fashion, an early summer gathering before the closure of the Mary and John Gray Library’s reception floor, to honor the newly named 17th Legend, Beaumont attorney Glen W. Morgan, managing partner of the Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P. law firm.
As the proud son of an ironworker that manned hard days in the rank-and-file of local industry, Morgan has made it his mission to be of service to the working men and women of Southeast Texas. In recognition of his legendary status in furtherance of that feat, Morgan is now listed with the title of “Southeast Texas Legend” at Lamar University – an honor that university reps state, “recognizes his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and his unwavering commitment to community service.”
“I always wanted to help,” Morgan said. From a young age, long before even dreaming of becoming a Legend, he knew how he could be of service.
As a student in middle school, Morgan felt his calling.
“I’ve been a lawyer since the seventh grade,” Morgan half-joked. Having witnessed first-hand how hard it was for workers that have been injured on the job to recoup the funds they deserve, the preteen future Legend felt called to intercede on their behalf. “I wanted to be a lawyer that helped people.”
This year is not the first time Morgan’s journey to becoming a Southeast Texas Legend intertwined with Lamar University, the higher learning institution where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business in 1975. Morgan went on to pursue his Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law, awarded in 1978. Fresh out of law school, Reaud, Morgan & Quinn, L.L.P. law firm founder Wayne A. Reaud took the young attorney under his wing and gave him a job. Now, more than 40 years later, Morgan said he still holds a special place in his heart for his former boss, Beaumont Foundation of America founder, mentor and friend Wayne A. Reaud.
“He hired me,” Morgan recalls, “and we were like brothers.”
Over the years, Reaud and Morgan fought the good fight, the attorney reminisced. Holding corporations responsible for negligence and criminality, forcing enterprises to enact safety procedures for workers, changing workplace procedures for the betterment of the employees and securing funds for workers that have been injured or killed on the job – all in a day’s work, Morgan said.
“I’ve tried to do things to make the workplace safer for our family, for our neighbors, and for our friends,” Morgan said. “We want our loved ones to come home from work.”
“In all my years of practice, all I ever wanted to do was help the little guy stand up against the big insurance companies and to get the justice that they deserve,” Morgan told those gathered at the Legend scholarship announcement celebration. “All my bedtime stories to the kids as they were growing up dealt with those types of things. It was always some big thing picking on something little and the moral of the story was always ‘Don't let big things pick on little people; you stand up and fight for them because sometimes they can’t fight for themselves and they need someone to help them.’”
To let his accomplishments tell the story, Morgan has risen to the pinnacle of his profession – collecting awards and honors as: consistent recognition as a Top Texas Lawyer in Texas Monthly’s Super Lawyer Section since 2006; named Best Lawyers in America distinction since 2006; bestowed recognition from the National Law Journal in Top 50 Verdicts; acclaimed as Nation’s Top One Percent in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel from 2015 – 2020; Best Lawyer of the Year honor in 2021 for Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation from The Best Lawyers in America list; and induction into the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, to name but some of the high praise bestowed on the people’s lawyer.
High honors from high places are very nice, Morgan said, but honorary memberships lauded on the attorney by those he has helped are among Morgan’s most prized possessions. Among the associations naming Morgan as one of their own, most are filled with trade workers and public servants: Beaumont Police Officers Association; Texas State Building and Construction Trades Council, AFLCIO; IBEW Local 479; and International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 399.
“One of the highest achievements,” Morgan shared, is being granted membership into organizations that others have sacrificed to enter. “I have never asked for it – but it is such an honor.”
However, as the successful attorney is quick to interject, Morgan’s path to prosperity was paved with the assistance of those who made sacrifices and leaps of faith on his behalf. Not the least of supporters, Morgan’s father, Donald E. Morgan.
“I wanted to help people like my dad helped me,” he said, adding that his father worked hard to provide the assistance that catapulted his son into the life he now leads.
“There’s someone every day that needs help,” he said. “And, I’m here to help.”
And, to make sure the elder Morgan’s generosity is never forgotten, the grateful son established the Donald E. Morgan Scholarship at Lamar University in honor of his father, contributing to the university’s mission of providing educational opportunities to deserving students.
Morgan’s involvement at Lamar University extends well into the Cardinal’s core, though, as the former university athlete is still deeply involved in many facets of the higher learning institution, serving as a board member of the Lamar University Foundation and the Lamar University College of Education and Human Development Advisory Board.
“What really sets Mr. Morgan apart is his commitment to transforming personal success into community impact, whether it’s through his leadership with Cardinal Athletics or his work with Lamar University Foundation,” Lamar University President Dr. Jaime Taylor said. “Mr. Morgan’s unwavering dedication to excellence and service have left an indelible mark on our community and our university.”
To paraphrase a quote that guides Morgan, “To he that is given much, much is expected.”
“I’ve been very blessed in my life,” Morgan said. “It’s incumbent on me to return and be a benefit to others.”
Morgan, surrounded by friends and family, was humbled by the Legend announcement fanfare – and by the words of friend and mentor Reaud.
“I listened to all the wonderful things people say, which are all true, but they do not do him justice. He’s much more and much greater than that,” Reaud said. “The real reason he’s a legend in my mind is because of the content of his character. He’s a good and decent man and he’s the best hire I ever made.”
The Beaumont Foundation began the Southeast Texas Legend Scholarships at Lamar University in 2007, under past Chairman and Founder Wayne A. Reaud, to “honor those who blazed a trail across Southeast Texas” by providing endowed scholarships for bright youth in need of financial help to achieve their potential. The first Legend Scholarships are named in honor of nine Southeast Texas leaders – Major T. Bell, The Honorable Don Burgess, Everett Lord, Hubert Oxford III, Dr. James M. Simmons, Dr. George McLaughlin, Joe H. Tonahill, John G. Tucker and The Honorable Bob Wortham.
In 2008, four additional scholarships were named to honor Southeast Texas leaders – Congressman Jack Brooks, Dr. Joe Dickerson, Senator Carl Parker and Ward Stephenson.
In December 2009, a scholarship was named to honor Southeast Texas Legend, Gilbert I. “Buddy” Low. Walter Umphrey was added as the 15th Southeast Texas Legend in November 2012. Reaud was added as the 16th Southeast Texas Legend in November 2017.
Legend scholars receive a full scholarship for four years covering tuition, fees, room, board and books. First-time-incollege freshmen with a minimum GPA of 3.9, and in the Top 10% of their class with a record of demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, service and/or creative endeavors, can apply. Students must also complete a FAFSA and demonstrate financial need. For more information on how to apply, visit www.lamar. edu/financial-aid/scholarships/incomingfreshmen-scholarship.html.
“There are a lot of really bright students that don’t get this level of support,” Zabala said, praising programs that offer such a high level of support for students on a personal level. “It’s really a big deal.”
“I was honored that they would do that and include me,” Morgan said, pointing to the Beaumont Foundation of America for funding the endowed scholarships offered under the Legend program. “The Beaumont Foundation has done so much for our area, and for helping people get an education.”