September 5, 1997

FPN97-21 Fusion Program Notes

O. B. Morgan Dies

Former director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory fusion program, O. B. (Bill) Morgan died September 4 at his home in Oak Ridge, TN. In 1996 he was disabled by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known in the U. S. as "Lou Gehrig's disease." Bill was a beloved figure of the U. S. fusion program, combining personal warmth and outstanding technical accomplishment. His death at the age of 67 is a great loss to his family and friends.

Bill joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1958 and retired in 1994, having risen to the position of Associate Director of the Laboratory. He attended North Carolina State University and received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He was a pioneering researcher in the field of intense ion beams for heating fusion plasmas. He recieved a Distinguished Service Citation in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin for his career accomplishments and was elected Fellow of the American Physical Society. His hobbies included boating and jogging.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy McCracken Morgan, an artist and longtime teacher in the Oak Ridge schools; two sons and their wives, and a sister. A memorial service is being held at 2 PM Sunday, Sept. 7, 1997, at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. Mrs. Morgan can be contacted at 126 Westlook Circle, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

The family requests that any memorials be in the form of donations to First Methodist Church, P. O. Box 4669, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-4669, or to Muscular Dystrophy Association, Attn: Lee Willard, 4611-A Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville, TN 37912.

For more information, contact: Stephen O. Dean