Born Dec. 5, 1937, James Hanly Morgan was educated in local schools. He graduated from Huntington High School in 1955 and from West Virginia University in 1959 with a bachelors degreee in agricultural sciences. Other education includes continuing studies in financial management, inventory control and store operations as presented by national industry organizations. In 1995, he attained the degree of certified store professional with the National Association of College Stores.

In business, Jim joined the family office products company in 1959 and was elected president of Morgan's Inc. in 1969 and was responsible for all operations of that company. In 1980, Morgan's Inc. expanded and purchased Stationer's Inc., which sold office products, gifts and college textbooks. In 1987, Stationer's-Morgan's was sold to Chapman Printing Inc. and Jim remained active in the office products division until 1991 when he purchased the assets of the college bookstore division from Chapman Printing and started Stadium Bookstore Inc. The bookstore serves the Marshall University community and Huntington area. Jim sold and retired from the bookstore in 2003.

In civic activities, Jim Morgan is an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he was a teacher for 27 years and has served as a chairperson of numerous committees and as senior warden. Community and civic service include past chair of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia Retailers Association and president of the Rotary Club of Huntington.

In politics, Jim has been active in the Democratic Party, serving five terms as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates as well as a member of the Cabell County Commission. He also has served various civic organizations and is currently active on the board of several local charities.

A family man, Jim is married to the former Elizabeth (Betty) Ainslie and father of four grown children. He and Betty have six grandchildren. Jim is a 40+-year member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where he has served as senior warden, treasurer and vestry member. He taught Sunday school for 25 years. He is currently a licensed lay preacher and eucharist chalice bearer in the Episcopal diocese of West Virginia. Always willing to help others, Jim is on his 28th gallon of blood donations.

Here are three generations of the Jim Morgan family. From the left, in the back row, are Robert Lee McKinney, Kelli, Annie, Jim III, Annie, Bob and Hanly, Jennifer and Sydney, Bill, Betty and Jim. In the front row, from left, are Jack, Ainslie and Morgan.