Morgan, Howard Vincent, 1914-

Howard Vincent Morgan (1914-2012) was born in Tillamook, Oregon and attended Jefferson High School and Reed College, graduating with a degree in economics. Morgan was the son of a commercial fisherman who would go on to be elected to the Oregon state legislature.

He also served as Oregon's Public Utilities Commissioner (1957-1959). His career as commissioner was controversial; he often filed dissenting opinions in the face of a majority vote. He insisted that the public interest take precedence over all other considerations. As a "courageous champion of the public interest and friend of the people," the Western States Water and Power Consumers Conference presented him with their 1963 Leland Olds Award. He would later serve as Federal Power Commissioner in 1961.

Morgan also chaired the Democratic Party of Oregon from 1952-1956. He ran again for public office as a candidate in Oregon's 1966 senatorial race, on an anti-Vietnam War platform, but was defeated in the primaries.

In private life he had been a livestock rancher since 1948 and co-owner and executive of a heavy-construction firm in Portland.

From the guide to the Howard Vincent Morgan papers, 1953-1973, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)