CHARLES MORGAN Jr.

Charles O. Morgan, Jr. August 13, 1921 - May 28, 2012 Charles O. Morgan, Jr., a preeminent San Francisco attorney, passed away peacefully on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012, with his wife, Lydia, by his side. He was 90. Mr. Morgan was born in Los Angeles to Charles and Dorothy Morgan. The family, including his younger brother Hank, moved to San Francisco in 1922. Mr. Morgan graduated from Lowell High School in 1938, where he played quarterback for the varsity football team and was known as "Touchdown" Morgan. He continued playing football at the University of California at Los Angeles, and was on a team that included future baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson. Following the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Morgan enlisted in the armed services in 1943 and served with the 485th Bomb Group of the Army Air Force, eventually earning the rank of captain. As a navigator, Mr. Morgan flew 63 missions in the European Theatre and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal [with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters], and a Presidential Unit Citation. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded when the B-24 Mr. Morgan was on returned to its home field successfully despite receiving 220 flak holes, earning him a new nickname, "Flak." After his discharge, Mr. Morgan returned to San Francisco to study law at Hastings College of the Law, graduating in 1949. Mr. Morgan opened his first office in 1950 and went on to have a remarkable career in the law. A formidable opponent for more than fifty years, he had a keen intellect and was widely considered to be among the elite trial attorneys. He was a consummate gentleman, in and out of the courtroom, renowned for his ability to eviscerate a witness on cross-examination without ever raising his voice. Mr. Morgan tried a wide variety of cases, including celebrity divorces, criminal defense, and all types of civil litigation, with a special expertise in the defamation area. He also argued a number of cases in the courts of appeal, and the United States Supreme Court established an important precedent in defamation law following his argument in the landmark case of Masson v. New Yorker Magazine, Inc. Throughout Mr. Morgan's career, many young attorneys came to work for and learn from him. For many of those young lawyers, Mr. Morgan was a hero and a mentor, someone who could be relied on for advice and guidance. In 1973 Mr. Morgan met Lydia and they later married. They were devoted to each other and loved spending time together, including extensive travel to Europe, trips to Silverado and weekly walks in Golden Gate Park. Mr. Morgan was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Hank. Mr. Morgan is survived by Lydia and will be greatly missed by Lydia, friends, family and colleagues. All will remember Mr. Morgan for his love of the law, his intelligence, his kind generous spirit, and unfailing loyalty to the people in his life. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 3 pm on June 29, 2012, at the Presidio Chapel, 130 Fisher Loop, Presidio, San Francisco. Donations in his memory may be made to Paralyzed Veteran's of America, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94304.