He was born in Tallapoosa County, Alabama August 4, 1927 to the late Henry Bertha Morgan and the late Mary Bell Preer Morgan. He had worked in the cotton mill, in the pulpwood business, he was a mechanic,and was a milkman delivering milk door to door before he started his law enforcement career, he had been chief of police in Camp Hill, Alabama, he was chief of police in LaFayette from 1965 until 1971, when he ran for sheriff of Chambers County where he served for 24 years from 1971 until 1995. He also taught at the Montgomery Police Academy, he was a member of the LaFayette First Baptist Church, was a mason for over 59 years he was a member of the Solomon Lodge #74 F.&A.M., he was a member of the Alcazar Shrine Temple in Montgomery, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite,, a member of the Alabama Sheriff's Association, The FOP Lodge #20, the Alabama Peace Officers Association and was active with the Boy Scouts. He was a Navy veteran of WWII.

Survivors are his wife Louise Morgan of LaFayette, Al., 5 Children James C. (Glenda) Morgan, Jr. of Opelika, Al., Faye (Don) Ford of Opelika, Al., Randy (Emmy) Morgan of LaFayette, Al., Pam (Jeff) Hadaway of LaFayette, Al., Russell (Tanya) Morgan of Greensboro, Ga., brother Walter Lee (Betty) Morgan of Camp Hill, Al., sister Mary Joyce Reeves of Tallassee, Al.  5 grandchildren  8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a great grandson Benjy Ferrell.