by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
It wasn’t a high profile trial that put a standing-room-only crowd in Courtroom A at the County Courthouse Friday. People were lined up into the hall to express their best wishes to Chief Assistant Clerk of the Court Gordon Morgan and recognize his retirement.
“Gordon started at the bottom and ended up at the top. There aren’t many people who could do that. He has done a great job and I appreciate it,” said Clerk of the Court Jim Fuller, who then presented a plaque to Morgan in recognition of his 21 years of service.
“I have mixed emotions. It will be very different to wake up Monday morning and not come to work here,” said Morgan, who has worked for three Clerks of the Court during his tenure.
“This courthouse has been home to me. I worked for Morgan Slaughter, Henry Cook and Jim Fuller. I feel blessed to have been able to work here and it gave me a good life,” he commented.
At many retirement parties, the guest of honor is given a fishing pole or a rocking chair, but neither was in evidence at Friday’s celebration. If all goes according to his plan, Morgan will hang his Fourth Judicial Circuit retirement plaque in his new office at the Capitol Building in Tallahassee. He’s seeking the Dist. 17 House of Representatives seat that is being vacated by the term-limited Stan Jordan.
“I’ve been campaigning, but I’ve been keeping it low key until now. It’s a grass-roots effort, so first thing Monday morning I’ll start wearing out shoe leather immediately.”