Morgan, Ralph

The Johnston County Farm Bureau gave these pages in honor of Ralph Morgan's retirement in August 2004.

Ralph S. Morgan was born in Johnston County on April 26, 1946, to M. A. "Happy" and Elizabeth Rogers Morgan. As a boy, he often accompanied his father to work at the Smithfield Tobacco Market and Farm Bureau in Johnston County. In 1964 Ralph graduated from Smithfield High School and furthered his education at NC State University. He graduated in 1968 with a bachelor of science in business-agricultural economics.

After graduation, Ralph began his career with Johnston County Farm Bureau as an agent alongside his father who was then the agency manager. Ralph's main responsibility was helping the Farm Bureau members with their insurance needs. In 1975, he became agency manager of Johnston County Farm Bureau. Under his leadership, the insurance program grew from one office in Smithfield to three offices in Smithfield, Clayton, and Benson. By the time of his retirement in August 2004, there were twenty-one agents, two customer service representatives, and nine secretaries. It was one of the largest Farm Bureau insurance agencies in North Carolina.

Ralph worked with the farmers and the Johnston County Farm Bureau Board following the changes in the tobacco industry's crop insurance coverage as well as program changes over the years. The most significant changes he saw involved many farmers having coverage on small acres to fewer farmers having larger acreage. He handled crop hail coverage to start but soon branched out to multi-peril crop coverage insurance programs as federal crop coverage changed. He also witnessed the progression of tobacco curing from hand tying to sewing machines to rack bulk barns to box bulk barns. Of course, this also meant seeing the changes at the warehouse, when the leaf went from being marketed in bundles, to loose leaf, to bales, and from tobacco auctions to contract buying. Throughout his years, he was involved with many discussions concerning increases and cuts in various tobacco programs. He now plans to watch with much interest the new contract marketing and how the future will unfold after the 2005 tobacco buyout ends the quota system.

Ralph is married to Gloria Mangum and they have three children; Brian Pope, Ragan Ham, and Margaret Morgan-Lee. Ralph and Gloria also have six grandchildren; Seth Pope, Luke Pope, Jake Pope, Kayla Ham, Brittany Lee, and Megan Lee.

In Honor of Ralph S. Morgan

Ralph Morgan received the following honors, awards, and recognitions throughout his distinguished career: North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
Third Place Honor Agency, Category 1,1989
First Place Honor Agency, Category 1,1990
First Place Honor Agency, Category 1,1992
Second Place Honor Agency, Category 1,1993
Second Place Honor Agency, Category 1,1994
First Place Honor Agency, Category 1,1998
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
Agency Production Clubs, 30 years
Big Ten Agency, 10 years
All Star Winner, 25 years
Round Table Winner, 23 years
Million Dollar Ring Program
Diamond Watch Program
Life Underwriters Training Council
Part I Personal Insurance, 1970
Part II Business Insurance, 1971
Disability, 1998 LUTCF, 1989.
The American College
Charter Life Underwriter, 1976
Charter Financial Consultant, 1993
Individual Recognitions
Graduated Agency Manager Training Course, 1984
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Series 6 License 2000
National American Securities Administrators Association Series 63 license, 2000
Johnston County Life Underwriters Association, President 1972-1973
North Carolina Association of Life Underwriters Area III, Vice President 1974-76
Member of Raleigh-Durham Chapter of CLU & ChFC
Member of American Society of CLU & ChFC
Member of Raleigh GAMA, President 1989-90
Greater Smithfield Selma Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, Life Member
Smithfield Kiwanis Club, President 1982-1983
Baptist Retirement Homes of North Carolina, Inc. Trustee Board 2000-2004